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Kayla Viaene
Mr. Becker
Honors 10 English
5 September 2011
Character Map / Sociogram
Tim O’Brien – He is the narrator and protagonist in the novel. Twenty years after
he was in the Vietnam War, Tim O’Brien expresses his emotions and his journeys he
experienced throughout the time of the war through this marvel of storytelling, The
Things They Carried. He tries to justify all of the things he did in the war while working
through his guilt of several friends dieing and killing a man.
Jimmy Cross – He is the lieutenant of the Alpha Company, held responsible for
all of the men in the group, including Tim O’Brien. Throughout his time in Vietnam,
Jimmy Cross is so preoccupied by his love for Martha that he is blind folded towards his
fallen comrades. He is then left with the long-lasting guilt towards his lack of better
judgment over the unnecessary deaths of Ted Lavender and Kiowa.
Mitchell Sanders – He is a friend and powerful influence on the narrator, Tim
O’Brien. Mitchell Sanders is the Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) for the Alpha
Company. He is a friendly, likeable guy that is obsessed with the truth and morals about
everything that surpasses him in the war. He plays a large part in Tim O’Brien’s ability to
comprehend and write stories.
Kiowa – He was Tim O’Brien’s closest friend in the Vietnam War. Kiowa is a
Christian that embraces his religion, always carrying around a New Testament, but does
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not force it onto other people. Later, Kiowa, due to an unfortunate mistake, drowns in a
sewage field. Kiowa’s death puts more of an impression on the men than when he was
alive, making them realize that war is cruel and unfair.
Norman Bowker – He is a gentle character throughout the war that is first
introduced as somewhat of a thumb collector. Norman Bowker is pressured by his dad to
receive medals from being in the war and tries to prove to his dad, when he returns from
the war, that he almost got the Silver medal. After the war, he is so deeply traumatized
that he tries to relieve himself through writing a letter to Tim O’Brien about the war
expressing his views and opinions on what they experienced. Later, he commits suicide
using a jump rope.
Henry Dobbins – Being a gentle giant, he is the machine gunner for Tim
O’Brien’s group. He is known for wearing his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck for
good luck. Henry Dobbins is a simple, decent man that is incapable of being an enemy
towards the civilians in Vietnam.
Bob “Rat” Kiley – He is the medic in the group known for carrying around
comic books and M&M’s. Rat Kiley helps out Tim O’Brien tremendously the first time
he gets shot. Surrendering to the elements and events in the war, Rat Kiley eventually
shoots his toe in order to be relieved of his military duties.
Curt Lemon – He is an immature, young man that seems to be incapable of
understanding the true danger of war. Curt Lemon is Rat Kiley’s best friend that
carelessly is killed while playing with smoke grenades. Tim O’Brien, though not friends
with Curt Lemon, contemplates the sadness and unintentional death of him throughout
his writing.
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Ted Lavender – He is a scared soldier that takes tranquillizers and smokes
marijuana to ease his tension. Ted Lavender is the first character to die in the book, which
leaves a lasting impression on all of the men, including Tim O’Brien.
Lee Strunk – He is a cocky soldier that makes enemies with Dave Jensen. When
Lee Strunk steals Dave Jensen’s jackknife they get into a fight resulting in Lee getting his
nose broken. After that fight the two of them become friends and promise to kill each
other if either of them became crippled from the war (the promise is later broken). This
interesting promise shows Tim O’Brien the difference between fantasy and reality in the
heat of war.
Dave Jensen – He is another cocky character who injures himself to apologize for
breaking Lee Strunk’s nose. After breaking his promise to Lee Strunk, he is relieved by
Lee Stunk’s death. Dave Jenson’s reaction to Lee Strunk’s death shows Tim O’Brien the
illustration of the perspective soldiers are forced to assume.
Azar – He is an unsympathetic soldier who is cruel and unusual throughout his
time in the war. He later makes a miraculous turn around in character when he is forced
to find Kiowa’s dead body in the sewage field. This shows Tim O’Brien that some cruel
people are capable of good things.
Bobby Jorgenson – He is the replacement medic when Rat Kiley is injured. The
second time Tim O’Brien is shot Bobby Jorgenson does not help him, out of shock,
which causes Tim O’Brien’s plot for revenge against the medic. Bobby Jorgenson later
apologizes to him and helps to heal Tim O’Brien’s wound.
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Elroy Berdahl - He is the owner of the Tip Top Lodge on the Rainy River. Elroy
Berdahl is a quiet, father-like figure that helps Tim O’Brien to decide whether to escape
to Canada or get drafted to the war.
Kathleen – She is Tim O’Brien’s uneducated daughter. She asks her father
whether he has ever killed anyone, forcing him to lie to her to protect her innocence
towards him. This question leads Tim O’Brien to try to educate her about his time in the
war.
Mary Anne Bell – She is Mark Foosie’s high school sweetheart. When she
arrives to the Vietnam War her personality is altered as she dwindles away from Mark
Fossie and begins to hang with the Green Berets. Mary Anne Bell is eventually known to
have disappeared in the darkness of the forest. Tim O’Brien compares the difference
between Mary Anne Bell and the other lover of the rest of the men.
Mark Fossie – He is a medic in a different group of soldiers than the Alpha
Company. Mark Fossie’s heart is crushed when he comes to realize that the girl he wishes
to marry, Mary Anne Bell, would rather be invested in the war. This shows Tim O’Brien
the complexity of love.
Linda – She is Tim O’Brien’s first love who tragically dies of a brain tumor when
they are both in fifth grade. She is Tim O’Brien’s first experience with death and he
learns to keep peoples’ memory alive through storytelling.