Bobby Jorgenson Character Analysis in The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried Bobby Jorgenson Character Analysis

Save

Bobby Jorgenson is the new medic who joins Tim’s platoon after Rat Kiley self-injures and is sent to Japan. While Tim has seen Rat as a competent and almost heroic medic, he has a much less positive experience with Bobby, whose paralyzing terror in his first combat situation not only keeps him from promptly administering care to Tim, but also causes him to incorrectly treat Tim’s wound. Tim is helicoptered to a hospital and later reassigned to a headquarters company. His painful and humiliating wound takes a long time to heal, and during that time, his resentment of Bobby’s incompetence builds. When Tim’s platoon stops at the headquarters for stand-down, Bobby maturely apologizes to Tim, taking responsibility for his mistake and attempting a reconciliation. Additionally, the other men in Alpha Company tell Tim that Bobby has settled into his duty and is now a good and respected medic. Tim, deeply resentful, refuses Bobby’s apology – but Bobby feels that he’s done enough to take responsibility for Tim’s wounds. He’s not intimidated by Tim’s surliness after issuing his apology. Bobby’s character is defined by his steadfastness and kindness, but also by his ability to accept his faults while refusing to hold on to unnecessary guilt.

Bobby again shows a great amount of emotional maturity after Tim plays a frightening prank on him by not only calmly accepting that he and Tim are now even but also by treating Tim’s head wound, which was given to him by Azar. Bobby’s character shows that it is important and mentally healthy to forgive yourself for the mistakes you've made in the field, and that once someone has owned up to their actions and apologizes, there is no use in continuing to self-flagellate. This is a lesson that would benefit many of the men, including Tim, who are often haunted by their mistakes. Through Bobby, Tim learns the power of forgiving oneself. Additionally, the prank that Tim plays on Bobby teaches him that turning the pain of his injuries and trauma from Vietnam onto others is not an effective coping mechanism, and that it only increases his own fear and suffering.

Previous section Henry Dobbins Next section Kathleen