In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, we found that the idea of truth played a significant role in the novel. While reading, we came across this idea a number of times; however, the idea was a bit unclear. This is because O’Brien creates two truths- “story truth” and “happening truth.” These two truths left us wondering what was real and what was imaginary, but as we read, we found it difficult to distinguish between the two. We realized that since Tim O’Brien is a post-modernist writer, the idea of truth is difficult to define in his novel. There are several times in the text where the line between truth and storytelling is difficult to identify. An example of this is in his story “Notes.” O’Brien writes “By telling stories, you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself. You pin down certain truths. You make up others. You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like the night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain” (158). O’Brien admits to making up truths, which made the line between truth and fiction hard to define. Because of the indefinite line between the two, this passage led us to believe that there was a connection between truth and storytelling. However, we were interested to know just what this connection was.
The fact that O’Brien uses two different truths could lead the reader to have confusion when trying to connect the two ideas or when trying to understand what’s fact and what’s fiction. O’Brien jumps between “happening truth” and “story truth” throughout the entire novel, yet doesn’t create a definite separation between the two. The passage from “Notes” creates confusion because O’Brien admits to taking factual stories and twisting the truth of the actual events so he can develop his own stories. This made it difficult to distinguish between true stories and fictional stories while reading the novel. The Things They Carried is filled with these blurred and unclear descriptions of truth, which led us to believe that there was a deeper meaning and a greater significance for them other than simply creating confusion.
This confusion led us to the question “What is the connection between the way O’Brien handles ‘truth’ in The Things They Carried and his desire to communicate to his readers the value of storytelling and reading stories?” Once we developed this question and began our research, we found that many of the authors were saying that there was, in fact, a direct relationship between truth and storytelling in The Things They Carried. Many of the authors suggested that O’Brien had an emotional motivation for linking the two concepts. Others proposed the idea that Post-Modernism drove O’Brien to create an indistinct idea of truth. Other authors felt that O’Brien was merely trying to get readers to understand that truth can be skewed depending upon the person and the situation. Whatever the case, all of the critiques we read believed that O’Brien had some sort of purpose behind his storytelling and simply desired that readers understand the value of truth and stories and the link between the two.
Showing posts with label The Postmodernist's Idea of Truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Postmodernist's Idea of Truth. Show all posts
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Impossible Quest for Absolute Truth
Kaufmann, Michael. "The Solace of Bad Form: Tim O'Brien's Postmodernist Revisions of Vietnam in 'Speaking of Courage'." Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction 46.4 (2005): 333-343. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.
Michael Kaufman claims O’Brien’s work expresses uncertainty about the Vietnam War, as a meditation on the process of writing and exploration of the possibilities of fiction. Kaufmann speaks of O’Brien’s style of more of an artwork rather than a piece of writing and he believes that O’Brien is faced with a lot of moral struggles throughout the construction of this piece. Kaufmann states that O’Brien struggles not only with the question of how to interrupt events, but also how to determine what those events were exactly. O’Brien was struggling with what these events actually were that he was trying to express to his readers, would he tell the story truth or the happening truth. Kaufmann also states that O’Brien is a postmodernist writer and that like all postmodernists writer, he “flaunts alternate histories” (335). In The Things They Carried, readers are directly told the exact problems and concerns in the book, for instance we are never told the exact nature of Bowker’s problem, but yet we are supposed to depict something out of the text. Kaufmann expresses the pieces that are left out in O’Brien’s works, and were done initially by O’Brien. For instance, O’Brien left the shit field out of the story and other times. We are forced to piece together the story of how Norman Bowker did not win a Silver Star. O’Brien is expressing an open admission of guilt which ultimately betters the work.
Michael Kaufmann’s views are those in which have more of an emotional ties to them. This article is important to read because the ideas of the emotional tragedies and guilt O’Brien felt is repeatedly expressed. Also, by reading this article readers may now be able to ultimately question O’Brien and what exactly is he trying to do with his stories, are they for his own personal benefit or what. This article will allow readers to branch off with different ideas about O’Brien’s emotional state of mind during the war. This article may leave the reader pondering ideas because the right and the wrong truth, or the fact that there is not a true truth. The idea of Postmodernism is expressed in this article which always the reader to get a better sense of the background and historical atmosphere that O’Brien was writing in. By understanding his circumstances expressed in this article, the reader may be understand O’Brien’s reasoning behind his writing as a whole and ultimately they connection in which he is trying to make between storytelling and truth.
Michael Kaufman claims O’Brien’s work expresses uncertainty about the Vietnam War, as a meditation on the process of writing and exploration of the possibilities of fiction. Kaufmann speaks of O’Brien’s style of more of an artwork rather than a piece of writing and he believes that O’Brien is faced with a lot of moral struggles throughout the construction of this piece. Kaufmann states that O’Brien struggles not only with the question of how to interrupt events, but also how to determine what those events were exactly. O’Brien was struggling with what these events actually were that he was trying to express to his readers, would he tell the story truth or the happening truth. Kaufmann also states that O’Brien is a postmodernist writer and that like all postmodernists writer, he “flaunts alternate histories” (335). In The Things They Carried, readers are directly told the exact problems and concerns in the book, for instance we are never told the exact nature of Bowker’s problem, but yet we are supposed to depict something out of the text. Kaufmann expresses the pieces that are left out in O’Brien’s works, and were done initially by O’Brien. For instance, O’Brien left the shit field out of the story and other times. We are forced to piece together the story of how Norman Bowker did not win a Silver Star. O’Brien is expressing an open admission of guilt which ultimately betters the work.
Michael Kaufmann’s views are those in which have more of an emotional ties to them. This article is important to read because the ideas of the emotional tragedies and guilt O’Brien felt is repeatedly expressed. Also, by reading this article readers may now be able to ultimately question O’Brien and what exactly is he trying to do with his stories, are they for his own personal benefit or what. This article will allow readers to branch off with different ideas about O’Brien’s emotional state of mind during the war. This article may leave the reader pondering ideas because the right and the wrong truth, or the fact that there is not a true truth. The idea of Postmodernism is expressed in this article which always the reader to get a better sense of the background and historical atmosphere that O’Brien was writing in. By understanding his circumstances expressed in this article, the reader may be understand O’Brien’s reasoning behind his writing as a whole and ultimately they connection in which he is trying to make between storytelling and truth.
Truth and Stories as Two Different Ideas?
Wesley, Marilyn. "Truth and Fiction in Tim O'Brien's If I Die in a Combat Zone and The Things They Carried." College Literature 29.2 (2002): 1-18. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.
Marilyn Wesley addresses the idea that at first glance, truth and stories may seem opposite, but when dealing with “The Things They Carried” they have a strong connection. She explains that unlike other writers, O’Brien uses storytelling which is a mix between fact and fiction to express his experiences. Wesley states that “How to Tell a True War Story,” erases the idea that truth and stories are opposite and “allows storytelling to emerge as the pursuit of provisional comprehension” (7). He also expresses the idea that O’Brien’s stories exploits conflicting codes of violence to get his disparate truths about Vietnam expressed. Wesley believes that the evaluation of war that is expressed by O’Brien through storytelling is “less decisive and more inclusive” (9). Wesley explains that the “proper treatment of this truth” (7) for the soldiers is storytelling. Wesley describes O’Brien’s writing as “Postmodern in execution” due to stories that are “compendium of references to other stories, especially those reflecting contemporary ideological assumptions about war (10).” The story “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” is an example of this concept with its “contemplation of violence… however, does not allow the soldier the illusions of separation from a morally deficient culture or abdication of personal responsibility (10).” O’Brien has engaged in the act of trying to tell a true war story, but he has struggled with the remembrance of the war that comes along with it all.
Wesley makes it possible for the reader to move away from the idea of storytelling and truth as two different phrases and allows the reader to feel the connection between the two easier. After reading this article, the reader may pay less attention to what is actually true and what is actually false, but rather emerge into a deeper sense of the connection between storytelling and truth. I also feel as if Wesley has a political sense to her point of view, which may lead the readers to change their thoughts on O’Brien. The article also exploits O’Brien’s usage of violence to express the events of Vietnam to his readers. This article is important because it lets the reader get a better sense of the connection between truth and stories and how they are closely linked. This article is loaded with examples from The Things They Carried of how O’Brien is using violence to express the events in which he has experienced. The strong connection that the author had placed on violence and storytelling also may help the reader develop a broader view of our question.
Marilyn Wesley addresses the idea that at first glance, truth and stories may seem opposite, but when dealing with “The Things They Carried” they have a strong connection. She explains that unlike other writers, O’Brien uses storytelling which is a mix between fact and fiction to express his experiences. Wesley states that “How to Tell a True War Story,” erases the idea that truth and stories are opposite and “allows storytelling to emerge as the pursuit of provisional comprehension” (7). He also expresses the idea that O’Brien’s stories exploits conflicting codes of violence to get his disparate truths about Vietnam expressed. Wesley believes that the evaluation of war that is expressed by O’Brien through storytelling is “less decisive and more inclusive” (9). Wesley explains that the “proper treatment of this truth” (7) for the soldiers is storytelling. Wesley describes O’Brien’s writing as “Postmodern in execution” due to stories that are “compendium of references to other stories, especially those reflecting contemporary ideological assumptions about war (10).” The story “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” is an example of this concept with its “contemplation of violence… however, does not allow the soldier the illusions of separation from a morally deficient culture or abdication of personal responsibility (10).” O’Brien has engaged in the act of trying to tell a true war story, but he has struggled with the remembrance of the war that comes along with it all.
Wesley makes it possible for the reader to move away from the idea of storytelling and truth as two different phrases and allows the reader to feel the connection between the two easier. After reading this article, the reader may pay less attention to what is actually true and what is actually false, but rather emerge into a deeper sense of the connection between storytelling and truth. I also feel as if Wesley has a political sense to her point of view, which may lead the readers to change their thoughts on O’Brien. The article also exploits O’Brien’s usage of violence to express the events of Vietnam to his readers. This article is important because it lets the reader get a better sense of the connection between truth and stories and how they are closely linked. This article is loaded with examples from The Things They Carried of how O’Brien is using violence to express the events in which he has experienced. The strong connection that the author had placed on violence and storytelling also may help the reader develop a broader view of our question.
Exploration of Truth and Fiction
Silbergleid, Robin. “Making Things Present: Tim O'Brien's Autobiographical Metafiction.” Contemporary Literature 50.1 (2009): 129-155. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 3 Dec. 2010.
Silbergleid argues in this article that the “book's self-conscious use of fictionality works to create a sense of presence for the reader, focusing in particular on the use of bodily images and the ‘things’ of Vietnam. “ She believes that O’Brien’s way of going about writing fiction creates realness for readers as they explore the novel. Silbergleid proposes the idea that The Things They Carried works to create real truth about the complicated truths of the Vietnam War. Silbergleid considers in her article that the central idea of The Things They Carried is to allow “the reader to understand the Real of Vietnam” as O’Brien would like for and strives for readers to do. Silbergleid states “what The Things They Carried enacts as well as describes is the usefulness of fictionalized autobiography when it comes to writing about historical events.” This statement suggests that O’Brien creates a sense of importance by writing fiction and making it seem true so it can be related to something that is true. Silbergleid also says “that identity can be used to establish credibility and ethical appeal” which plays a role in the novel being a postmodern fiction. In all, Silbergleid examines and concludes that O’Brien’s novel serves as a view of history and the best way to get at the truth of historical events.
Silbergleid’s idea that O’Brien is trying to get at the truth about history can help readers understand why O’Brien creates unreal, fictional stories. O’Brien’s use of fiction to create truth can be confusing for readers, but the way Silbergleid demonstrates and examines this use of fiction can help readers understand the underlying factors that contribute to O’Brien’s reasoning. O’Brien tends to play with his readers emotions by saying one thing and then contradicting it by saying another. Silbergleid suggests that the novel offers “a powerful reminder about the status of narrative authority in postmodern fiction.” This quote demonstrates the way O’Brien is in control of his reader’s emotions throughout the novel and demonstrates the fact that the narrative is unclear about truth because it is a postmodern fiction. By reading this, readers of the novel can gain some idea as to why O’Brien is difficult to understand and realize that it is all because of his power as a writer and as a person who experienced the war that he is writing about. By asserting this power, O’Brien establishes his credibility as a writer of the Vietnam War, which allows him to create untruthful facts about the war, because these facts help readers who never experienced the war understand it on a new level.
Silbergleid argues in this article that the “book's self-conscious use of fictionality works to create a sense of presence for the reader, focusing in particular on the use of bodily images and the ‘things’ of Vietnam. “ She believes that O’Brien’s way of going about writing fiction creates realness for readers as they explore the novel. Silbergleid proposes the idea that The Things They Carried works to create real truth about the complicated truths of the Vietnam War. Silbergleid considers in her article that the central idea of The Things They Carried is to allow “the reader to understand the Real of Vietnam” as O’Brien would like for and strives for readers to do. Silbergleid states “what The Things They Carried enacts as well as describes is the usefulness of fictionalized autobiography when it comes to writing about historical events.” This statement suggests that O’Brien creates a sense of importance by writing fiction and making it seem true so it can be related to something that is true. Silbergleid also says “that identity can be used to establish credibility and ethical appeal” which plays a role in the novel being a postmodern fiction. In all, Silbergleid examines and concludes that O’Brien’s novel serves as a view of history and the best way to get at the truth of historical events.
Silbergleid’s idea that O’Brien is trying to get at the truth about history can help readers understand why O’Brien creates unreal, fictional stories. O’Brien’s use of fiction to create truth can be confusing for readers, but the way Silbergleid demonstrates and examines this use of fiction can help readers understand the underlying factors that contribute to O’Brien’s reasoning. O’Brien tends to play with his readers emotions by saying one thing and then contradicting it by saying another. Silbergleid suggests that the novel offers “a powerful reminder about the status of narrative authority in postmodern fiction.” This quote demonstrates the way O’Brien is in control of his reader’s emotions throughout the novel and demonstrates the fact that the narrative is unclear about truth because it is a postmodern fiction. By reading this, readers of the novel can gain some idea as to why O’Brien is difficult to understand and realize that it is all because of his power as a writer and as a person who experienced the war that he is writing about. By asserting this power, O’Brien establishes his credibility as a writer of the Vietnam War, which allows him to create untruthful facts about the war, because these facts help readers who never experienced the war understand it on a new level.
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