Assignment on Fear of Shame Standards of The Society

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Fear of shame standards of the society
“The Things They Carried” novel by Tim O’Brien represents the fear of shame standards
in society. Fear of shame society standards is well illustrated by actions of one of the main
characters in the novel called O’Brien. He is the character who shows that one of the greatest
motivations of the soldiers in the society is the fear of shame. In the issues concerning the war,
the factor which gears out those who in the war in the society is the fear of shame mentality
standards of the society (O'brien 171). This is well illustrated by the action taken by this
character to make sure he does not incur any shame of losing the battle in society. He does not
want to fight in the war but deep in his heart he does not want the society to see him as a coward
soldier. He is pushed by the set standards of the society that does not value cowards and defeat.
He thinks the war is unjust but he has no other alternatives because he does not want to fail the
society. It is not being patriotic or dedicated to his country that he flees to Canada but he is
forced by the fact he does not want to be considered as coward soldier in the war. This is one of
the standards happening in the society he exists that pushes this character to a dangerous war. He
can not imagine how his family and society will consider him as a failure or inferior if at all he is
defeated in the war. The misguided high expectation of the society on O’Brien has affected and
led to his uncertainty concerning the proper action taken of the war (Kaplan 43). It is always