The Lives of the Dead

O'Brien continues to tell stories because they keep alive the memory of whatever they're about. He continues to tell the stories about Vietnam because when he's gone, what will there be to tell then if he doesn't do it first? They're his memories that will live on and be relevant because they're being thought upon. The parallel storytelling of Linda, Tim's young love that died, with the story of Curt Lemon, who went out on Halloween and disrobed a Vietnamese woman and took her clothes. There is a contrast of good and bad in O'Brien's life and he tells the stories to maybe remind himself of all what he's experienced and the person it has made him. Most of what he has gone through seems like fiction to regular people who haven't been able to live life and now he can dress it up any which way he wants to because he knows what's the truth and as long as he does, it doesn't matter what's really being told to others. This is also why he creates the most main character we have in his image because it's easier to lie if it's yourself you're lying about. However, this also enables him to incorporate his own opinions and lessons on morality with becoming preachy. It's really great that he was able to also include insight and emotion along with history because it makes what could be false just a little more real.