The Things They Carried: Quote Response

“It's now 1990. I'm forty-three years old, which would've seemedimpossible to a fourth grader, and yet when I look at photographs ofmyself as I was in 1956, I realize that in the important ways I haven'tchanged at all. I was Timmy then; now I'm Tim. But the essence remains thesame. I'm not fooled by the baggy pants or the crew cut or the happysmile—I know my own eyes—and there is no doubt that the Timmy smiling atthe camera is the Tim I am now. Inside the body, or beyond the body, thereis something absolute and unchanging. The human life is all one thing,like a blade tracing loops on ice: a little kid, a twenty-three-year-oldinfantry sergeant, a middle-aged writer knowing guilt and sorrow,” (236).
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In one of his novels, and in the above excerpt from that book, Tim O’Brien constantly discusses the idea of time elapsing and the effects thereof. In the above quote I feel that his allegation pertaining to life’s changes is, on many levels, true. Everyone goes through phases and is constantly turning into something more defined (or vague even). As time passes, decisions are presented and choices are made. People learn and grow from life experiences. While some refuse to do such things, there is still an effect- even though there is no action.

In this passage, the example he makes to prove his point is by simply looking back to the past. Just by seeing where one has been can show a variation to who they are now. Many things may be the same, yes, but also many more things- hidden even- may be altered. But not the core. Tim O’Brien(the character)’s transformation was rather drastic throughout the novel. He progressed from an embarrassed, naive young man to a hardened solider. He witnessed many things that many people never even hear of in a lifetime. Yet, despite all of this turmoil and ‘growing up’, he is still able to recognize who he is.

While I do believe that some people can leave behind the essence ofthemselves and forget who they are momentarily, I also believe that there are others who do not and never will.
Take, for example yourself:
Have you ever wished the ‘you’ now could meet the old you? Everyone has. And the way you know that you are the same person through all this time is to look back and ask yourself if that ‘you’ way back when would admire who they are today or be ashamed. It doesn’t even matter what the answer is: If you can remember, the essence of yourself is still there after all this time. Memories and emotional responses to these recollections are the best devices for comparison, because you have to use a part of yourself to clarify the preferences you make.

Another example in the novel is the progression of Mary Jean’s character. She starts off as an innocent, yet eager, young girl and converts into something comparable to a nightmare. She seems to have lost all that she was as the result of this transformation, and even during it; however, she still knows who she is. This is who she longed to be all along- whether or not she was aware of it. She still wears her pink sweater and still knows her past, but now her present is garnished with nighttime prowls and her neck is draped with a ring of tongues.

People change, sometimes even beyond the recognition of others, this is an undeniable fact. But another reality is that people also have memories and never cease to see themselves. Whether or not it is in a ‘new light’; it does not matter. Knowing where one has been only helps to forge a clearer path to where one is headed. It is impossible to forget who you are. Maybe loose sight, but never forget. You can’t forget about what you feel when you look into your eyes in an old photo. You can’t forget about a piece of yourself. You can’t forget about the feelings you’ve had that have determined where you are now. You can’t forget about your own life.

Why I Write, (Irene Gut Opdyke)

My name is Irene Gut Opdyke and I am a Holocaust Rescuer.

I write to shock.
My goal is to interest my audience with my story, my experiences. I want to show the world the horrors I've witnessed and that the terrors my friends endured were real. I would like to reveal the rawness of the Holocaust.

I write to tell.
You need to hear about the lives and the stories I've encountered. I need to inform ignorance and educate obliviousness with harsh truths. I want to expose the reality that once was, for all it was, so it will never be again.

I write to prevent.
We must ensure that these nightmares never repeat themselves ever again. Together, we have to relay the memories of those affected by this tragedy. We can not allow a life to be treated in such a disgusting manner. I am trying to add to the reservoir of recourses so there will not be a relapse in history.

I hope that my influence positively changes as many lives as possible and that it was enough. These lives were in God's hands, as well as mine. As well as mine.