In our lives, we encounter situations that force us to do things that we don’t want to do. The way we act in these situations show the type of person we are. Will we stand up to the challenge or give up? This is a tough decision that people have to face everyday. However, it is possible to do something conformist while still inwardly questioning the choice. In The Things They Carried, the characters always seem to find themselves in this position. Tim O’Brien, the author, finds himself in this position often. He frequently does things he knows he will regret, yet he does them anyway because it is expected of him since he is at war. In this way, he illustrates outward conformity with inward questioning. O’Briens was just like any other young