Garrett Spray Spray 1English 2Ms. HillMay 13, 2014The Things They Carried ComparisonEminem's song Like Toy Soldiers illustrates a similar theme of the internal struggle people have over their reputation, as expressed by O'Brien during Ambush. Previously, during the Vietnam War, Kiowa and O'Brien took turns keeping watch in the jungle as a team of two, where O'Brien unknowingly threw a grenade at a passing Vietnamese native and killed him. O'Brien gives the feeling of not knowing how to behave emotionally and tells the reader, "Even now, I'm not done dealing with the problem." Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don't. life, I try not to dwell on it..." (O'Brien 128). In addition to dealing with mental conflicts, this chapter also gives a small taste of what O'Brien felt about himself and his reputation after his incident in Vietnam The theme of internal conflict and reputation relates to O'Brien's experience in that it shows that it has been affecting him for quite a long time. . "In the ordinary hours of life I try not to dwell on it..." (O'Brien 128). not understand whether or not he considers himself a reputable person This is proven by the fact that he mentions "Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don't" (O'Brien 128). mental stress Furthermore, this authenticates that he is playing with himself emotionally, not knowing if he can actually overcome his bad experience in Vietnam or with Spray 2, while still keeping his reputation middle of paper... ... mentions Spray 4 was good” (Eminem). This implies that he is proving that he feels he has a role as an artist. When it comes to Ambush, the tones compare well to each as both have a person with a reputation on the line due to their individual mistakes. Both display a serious tone in the way they phrase it. Eminem says "It was never my goal for anyone to be killed..." which is a serious statement because before that a friend of his was shot and killed. He felt like he was the one who caused it. And this corresponds to solemnity. With O'Brien, he said: "I was a soldier and this is a war, I should stop watching and wonder what the dead man would do." I did..." (O'Brien 127). This is also a serious statement and is meant to be taken seriously because O'Brien had just killed someone..