“Forty-three years old, and the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That’s what stories are for.”
-The Things They Carried, p 36
One noteworthy point which I forgot to discuss earlier was O’Brien’s switch to the first person point of view. The first chapter was entirely in third person, giving the chapter an impersonal touch. This was supported by the author’s decision not to use quotation marks to indicate dialogue. By doing this, O’Brien deliberately stripped the writing even more of any character, giving war a cold and disconnected feel.
After the first chapter, however, O’Brien does a complete volte face, now writing in first person and revealing that he also was a member of the company. By changing the point of view, O’Brien shifts the style of the book from simple historical fiction to a much deeper anecdotal reflection on a war which he experienced. He further expands this by now utilizing quotation marks, giving life and personality to his comrades. By establishing his ethos, O’Brien also explains why he is writing this tale: to preserve his experiences so that future generations may learn from them.
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