One thing I found really interesting was Tim O'Brien's idea of courage. That each of us has a "reservoir of courage... accumulating inside [us] over the years" (40). "Courage, I seemed to think, comes to us in finite quantities, like an inheritance, and by being frugal and stashing it away and letting it earn interest, we steadily increase our moral capital in preparation for that day when the account must be drawn down" (40). Courage, to me, has always been limitless. It is invisible, yet almost tangible when it is strongest. I, personally, have never experienced a strongly courageous moment, but I imagine that it is something you will never forget.
I really liked this little picture-quote. It's really encouraging. It suggests an everyday sort of courage, that everyday sort of people go through. This is my ideal version of courage.
Tim O'Brien has given me a lot to think about as I've read his book, The Things They Carried. He has challenged my beliefs. He has made me question the way I view truth, and the way I view beauty. But most of all, he has convinced me that, sometimes, the answer doesn't matter.
3 comments:
I think it's really great that this book has had such an impact on you, I know it has on me too. As for courage I think you make a very good point. For those of us lucky enough to have lived such privileged lives we can't even begin to imagine the courage it takes to be a soldier. Sure, standing up to a bully in middle school takes "courage" and not giving in to peer pressure takes "courage" but waking up every day thousands of miles from home and all your loved ones, fearing for your life, takes real courage.
I feel the same way that you do about how Tim O'Brien goes about talking about truth. In a way it seems as if Tim O'Brien showing courage in this book, by writing things that may not be facts, but writing about things that back then he did not have the courage to look at or see. This courage that he writes with enables us to realize the impacts that war has on people. This impact can be brought about through things that people have seen, or in Tim O'Brien's case, what people were afriad to see.
i also loved that quote! That quote really made me think about the meaning of courage, often i do think of that outrageous "roar" of some heroic action to be seen as courage. however, in this case, saying you'll try again tomorrow is more courageous than anyone could possibly imagine
Post a Comment