The Impact of War, Tim Obrien
When people think of war what comes to mind is death, torture, and destruction. War instills fear since everyone dreads involvement in the ordeal (Mazlish 10). The experience of war leaves people with physical and psychological scars. Tim Obrien in “The Things they Carried” brings to light the tribulations faced by the soldiers in their quest to restore peace. He asserts, ‘war is hell (Brien 8).'This is an exhilarating story that brings to light the fact that, despite their participation in the war, soldiers are still human. Stanley Kubrick echoes Obrien's sentiments in his award winning film the Full Metal Jacket. Both highlight the ugly truths of war as full of cruelties and absurdities. The experience of war for the soldiers shows that they are still human with feelings and emotions (Mazlish 11). For some, their emotions grow stronger while others undergo mental anguish and breakdowns, but whatever the case nobody is ever the same again.
In this perspective, it is captivating to note that these two masterpieces reflect on the US Vietnamese war. They both try to analyze the effects of war on the soldiers and the struggles they underwent in their quest to bring tranquility. In both cases, it is disheartening to understand that they succeed in bringing physical peace at the expense of their emotional peace.
[...] Cases of human disorders are obvious (Slim 16). The men show the will to survive versus the need to kill as ordered. O'Brien initially a peace loving man grows callous and begins to wish harm on others. This shows that the war has hardened him. The effect of war is that it transforms people into new beings devoid of feelings (Brien 130). Kubrick also depicts cases of disorder and malfunction. For instance, Pyle's depiction after undergoing training is evident as Hartman asks him “what is your major malfunction (Kubrick).” Pyle becomes a malfunctioning machine that is equitable to a killer. [...]
[...] He immortalizes the dead like Linda, Norman Bowker and Kiowa through his stories (Brien 156). Furthermore, Lavender handles his stress through indulging in drugs. In the Full Metal Jacket, the characters handle their trauma in certain ways. For instance, Joker makes witty and humorous remarks while Pyle has an indulgence for sweet foods such that in one scene, Hartman catches him with some jelly doughnuts and this gets him into trouble. The feelings of isolation and loneliness are common during a war (Mazlish 12). [...]
[...] The experience of war leaves people with physical and psychological scars. Tim Obrien in Things they Carried” brings to light the tribulations faced by the soldiers in their quest to restore peace. He asserts, is hell (Brien 8).'This is an exhilarating story that brings to light the fact that, despite their participation in the war, soldiers are still human. Stanley Kubrick echoes Obrien's sentiments in his award winning film the Full Metal Jacket. Both highlight the ugly truths of war as full of cruelties and absurdities. [...]
[...] Irony is rampant during the war. There may be feelings of competence at one minute and it can suddenly change into disillusionment and guilt as evident in The Things they Carried (Brien 279). This results from Kiowa's death, which leaves O'Brien in a state of confusion. Moreover, despite being in charge of the whole company, Jimmy Cross is full of misery since Martha does not reciprocate his love. It is ironical that somebody who appears that powerful is emotionally weak. [...]
[...] The transformation of the men into killing machines is evident. It is justifiable since they have to learn some defense mechanism to ensure they survive. There is manipulation of the Marines consciences. They have to recite some creeds, prayers and obscenities all with the aim of detaching them from their past values. Sergeant Hartman asserts, “Your rifle is a tool hard heart that kills (Kubrick).” The fact that the characters adopt their nicknames depicts the subjugation of their old identities. [...]
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