"The Things They Carried" (by Tim O’Brien) character analysis – Flashcards

The author and narrator of the book, anti-war; deals with his guilt about the war by telling stories, some of which are made up, to explain the way he feels; has a daughter named Kathleen (who, in real life, does not exist); kills a VC soldier (the scrawny mathematician) The protagonist of the novel. He is a Vietnam veteran who has become a writer since returning home from the war. The stories of his platoon are told through his eyes and involve the tragedy, camaraderie, and ugliness of war.

The Commanding officer lieutenant of the Alpha Company, who is is obsessed with a girl back home in New Jersey, and his preoccupation with her distract his attention from the war and sometimes leads to casualties. This leaves him with an overwhelming sense of guilt responsible for the entire group of men; early on in the novel, feels guilty early on in the book because he blames himself for Lavender's death (he was allegedly distracted), after which he burns the pictures of Martha and truly decides to change by becoming more focused; is in love with a girl at home named Martha- the feeling is not reciprocated, which depresses him (he holds on to her letters)

A young and terrified soldier in the Alpha Company; the first person we meet who dies while taking a piss; is notorious for taking tranquilizers due to his anxiety; Cross blames himself for the death of Lavender

Probably the nicest guy the Alpha Company; everybody likes him because he is quiet and moral; A deeply religious American Indian soldier who is respected and loved by the entire platoon.carries around a bible; his death is frequently discussed by O'Brien (one night, when the Alpha Company camped out in a "sh*t field" for a night and it didn't stop raining, he got swept away in the "sh*t"- Norman Bowker, one of his closest friends, was unable to save him); 'practical'- carries moccasins to be able to walk; a Native American and a Baptist; His death deeply affects O'Brien, as well as other soldiers.

Another member of Alpha Company who survives the war, but is unable to make the transition form soldier back to civilian. His experiences have isolated him from the people back home Not a major character during the wartime, but after Kiowa's death (for which he blames himself) cannot cope with life in the US- has no one to talk to, nothing seems right anymore- can't hold a job, etc.; writes letters to O'Brien; in the end, hangs himself at the YMCA in the locker room.

The original Alpha Company medic, until he starts going crazy and feels bugs crawling all over him, all the time- shoots himself so that he can get sent home; helps O'Brien the first time he gets shot (more honorably than the second time, which was in the butt)

One of the characters whom O'Brien seems to look up to, a sort of father-figure to him; tells stories-believes that a true war story goes on forever and has no morals; refuses to forgive Lt. Cross for Kiowa's death; tells the story of the guys camping out in Vietnam and hearing the music and party; ironic- sends the lice home in an envelope;

A large man who is actually very calm and sweet; creates a contrast; wears his girlfriends' pantyhose around his neck as a good luck charm even after she dumps him

A relatively minor character; feels guilty for injuring Lee Strunk in a fight over a knife, so he breaks his own nose (because he is paranoid that Strunk will get back at him); made a pact with Strunk to have one kill the other in the case of a really bad injury- is relieved when he doesn't kill Strunk, and Strunk dies of other injuries.

A relatively minor character; pact with Jensen; is injured badly and dies before Jensen has to follow through with his pact and kill him

A medic who once worked in the same outfit as Rat Kiley. Brings his sweetheart, Mary Anne Bell, out to Vietnam; the former medic in Rat Kiley's assignment; faces serious difficulty in realizing that Mary Anne has been lost to the Green Berets, war, and Vietnam as he watches her transform from a naive American teenager into a killing machine.

Mark Fossie's fiance and high school sweetheart; Fossie brings her out to Vietnam as a young and innocent girl, she soon transforms into a murderous, crazy character and joins up with the men; it is said, after her disappearance, that she literally became part of Vietnam.

A soldier in Alpha Company who is always trying to impress others with his crazy stunts and bravery. Steps on a grenade and gets blown to bits up in a tree (the "Lemon tree"); his friends retaliate for his death by killing the stray baby buffalo (serves as a metaphor for killing innocence); has the dentist pull a perfectly healthy tooth because it is the one way he has demonstrated his fears in front of the men and feels as though he must prove himself. He goes trick or treating stark naked with a death mask on his head and black paint all over his body.

A young brash soldier whom nobody truly likes because he is unsympathetic; who enjoys playing pranks and the thrill of playing guns; a cruel character who tortures and fools around with the bodies of dead Vietnamese soldiers and civilians, makes inappropriate and vulgar jokes, particularly about death; finally experiences a moment of remorse and desired atonement when he is forced to help drag Kiowa's body out of the muck- he says that he didn't mean to say all of those things, etc.; after O'Brien is shot in the butt, helps him carry out his plan to get back at Jorgenson. His immaturity clouds his perspective, making the line between fantasy and reality very blurry. He has little respect for the army, the Vietnamese people, or even his fellow soldiers.

The new medic in the Alpha Company who replaces Rat Kiley; doesn't really know what to do when O'Brien is shot in the butt and is clearly in shock; noted for his "new", "clean" and un-scuffed boots; an overall good guy During his first week he botches a patchup job on O'Brien's butt wound, and O'Brien has to flown to the rear for several weeks as a result. In attempt at revenge, O'Brien plans a prank on Jorgensen.

The man who owns the Tip Top Lodge on the Rainy River near the Canadian border; like Virgil or a father figure; He takes O'Brien in for a week and stands vigil while the frightened young man decides whether to report for the war or head to Canada without really saying or doing anything

O'Brien's daughter; on her birthday, the two go back to the sh*t field in Vietnam; is not told the truth about her father killing a man in Vietnam-YET

O'Brien's first love back home; They went to a movie together with his parents when he was nine years old. She dies of a brain tumor when they are in the 5th grade; notable because this was O'Brien's first experience with death; he always has her in his mind somewhere