"The Things They Carried" is a fiction book about the Vietnam War by Tim O'Brien that describes the physical and emotional burdens that men do not carry . only during their stay in Vietnam but also years after leaving the war front. The book is a series of stories told with O'Brien as the main narrator. O'Brien recounts the journey he takes alongside his unit, revealing his fight for courage and his decision to join the war. It is a revolutionary meditation on war, memory, imagination and the redemptive power of storytelling. O'Brien describes the variety of his and Alpha Company's encounters in Vietnam. O'Brien also describes the various items his fellow soldiers carried. Most of these items are physical items such as pocket knives, dog tags, and matches. Other things the men carried were burdens of emotional fear and guilt. O'Brien's many descriptions of what is carried on the backs of these men make the reader feel the weight of what these men were fighting for. This powerful writing also makes the reader feel like they too are marching alongside Alpha Company on the battlefield. The “things” each man carries are literal and figurative. The physical load that each man carries dominates the emotional load. Henry Dobbins wears items belonging to his girlfriend that symbolize her desire for comfort and affection. Jimmy Cross also carries the emotional burden of desire seen in the letters of Martha, a college sweetheart, who never seems to give the love and affection that Cross desires. O'Brien discusses the burdens carried after the war in "Love" and "Notes." War survivors may have the gift of seeing the sun shine every day, but they also remember every day the grief and confusion that also made Americans wary of government decisions. Even though the war is long over, Americans are still divided over the issues that arose during that time. Overall, the story offers a personal and emotional look at the Vietnam War. The main theme is that of portage which is carried out throughout the text and introduced for the first time in the title. The comprehensive, detailed lists of items the men carried seemed tedious and irrelevant at times, but the reader realizes that the emphasis is on the humanity of each soldier. This idea is further reinforced by the addition of ordinary objects carried such as cigarettes, chewing gum and wristwatches. The metaphor of transportation is ultimately crucial to the work, conveying the idea that the things we carry, whether inanimate or emotional, help each of us continue our lives even when faced with what may seem the toughest challenges..