The Vietnam War, a war that cost many lives. A war that changes the people, the nation and our opinions. In “The Things They Carried” by Tim O'Brien, symbolism is the key to making the reader understand life behind the line. Tim O'Brien's writings give readers a vivid picture that war has a deeper meaning than one might realize. In this story we see how everyday life through symbols is used in literary writing. In this short story, O'Brien doesn't really follow a classic narrative structure. But it goes without saying that the characters are introduced at the beginning of the story by the items they carried with them. One item that is strangely mentioned in the story is M&M's candy. “As a doctor, Rat Kiley carried a canvas bag filled with morphine, plasma and malaria tablets, surgical tape, comic books and everything else a doctor should carry, including M&M's for wounds particularly serious, for a total weight of almost 20 pounds. " (Ellison and Ellison 316). Now one must ask why does O'Brien even mention this candy? Does candy bring a mental attitude of security? That's all ...