The soldiers in Tim O’Brien’s ‘The Things They Carried’ range in age from their late teens to their mid-twenties. Most of the characters are in their early twenties, which is typical for soldiers during the Vietnam War.
The narrative focuses on the burdens they carry, both physically and emotionally. The characters’ relatively young ages highlight their vulnerability and the harsh reality of being thrust into the chaos of war at such a formative stage in their lives. O’Brien portrays these young men not just as soldiers but as boys who are still grappling with their identities, dreams, and the impact of the war on their youth.