Tim OBrien
The terms fear and courage played a major role in the life experience of Tim O'Brien. Like most other young males who just graduated college, in 1968 after graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, he sought different opportunities in hopes of becoming independent and gaining a career. Before these hopes of opportunity are realized, however, he receives notice that he has been drafted to the Vietnam War. He acknowledges the tragedies that may occur in war, and fears for his life. Generally courage is a way of overcoming fear. However, in O'Brien's supreme perspective, he reveals his extreme fear of courage. He finds himself in a "moral emergency" where he must analyze his perception of courage in order to make such a critical decision (901). After his analysis, he felt that as much as he feared loosing his life in war, he couldn't reveal that reason for not wanting to go to war to avoid any type of humiliation. He doubted his life if he pursued on with the process of war and therefore made excuses for himself to stay out. Because O'Brien didn't accept the challenge to follow his heart, he took the easy way out and went to war. His lack of courage forced him to live under the circumstance of not
Complying with the draft was one of the most critical decisions of O'Brien's life. Unfortunately, life became too difficult for him to stand up for what he believed in. He caused more confusion for himself by fearing courage. His fear of courage resulted in his decision to fight in the Vietnam War. O'Brien's experience in war caused him too see how a mistake in life sure teaches him a lesson. His mistake of going to war was evidently an experience that will haunt him for the rest of his life. He could only have learned from his lack of confidence, as he lacked to fight for what he felt was right. He faced the consequences off going against your own instincts and now can't say he would make a similar mistake twice. He looks back at the time of war and considers his mistake to be the cause of his coward ness. Because of this, he proved to be a coward after all, by not following his heart. believing in him and they're of continuing by facing the results of his fear of war. O'Brien is confused and feels the need to get away from his fears. During this time he considers going to Canada and beginning a new life. He wants to go somewhere where he won't feel any type of pressures and be able to do what he wants. He feels that being in America limits one's ability to do so many things, things of which he considers to be freedom. So he considers the opportunity of moving to Canada and regrouping himself, assuming it will help him in some way. He decides not to move, however, because of his fear of losing the respect of family and friends. He felt they wouldn't respect him because running away from the war would make him out to be a coward. Only because the mentality at this time period really influenced people to go along with what everyone else would do. The government had a strong hold of influence on people causing them to do what the government thought was right. This became the reality and was practiced by most while other were criticized for going against it. When Tim fina
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Approximate Word count = 1344
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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