The stories are often magical and uplifting. Yet just as often, the tales are tragic, downtrodden, or simply portrayed realistically. Furthermore, on rare occasions, the stories are a conglomerate of plot devices, messages, and harrowing evidence that give a little of everything while continuing in an almost certainly unstable direction. There are two stories of this type, by two different authors, that use this style. In "The Things They Carried," by Tim O'Brien, a seemingly innocent portrait of the protagonist, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, begins. He's not that dissimilar to the protagonist Young Goodman Brown, from the story of the same name, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. While many similarities can be found in their rising actions, climaxes and up to the epilogues, perhaps they are more similar in their expositions. The differences are striking, but inevitably both stories end on a similar point. Countless reasons cause great and terrible changes in people, often unexpectedly. Both protagonists are initially virtuous, simple and unbroken. Goodman Brown and his wife are described as young and newly married. This is seen in Brown's quick pivot in kissing Faith goodbye, and in his longing gaze with the ribbons waving adieux (Hawthorne 553-4). The couple hopes for a quick and safe return, but both feel troubled. Lieutenant Cross doesn't start off light-hearted, but is filled with a longing for hope. His hope is based on Martha's unrequited love. Cross seems adept at compartmentalizing what currently is and isn't. Martha's letters accompany him to fulfill the obligations of the day as he awaits nightfall and time to read them (O'Brien 684-685). He is not concerned about her lack of affection, which reveals a childish mind. This implies that,… middle of the card… duly recognized as a complete self-devastation due to the depravity he now sees in everyone. Cross probably expected some kind of metamorphosis when he went to fight. Brown, on the other hand, probably expected a much more benign change, if there ever was one. Both stories fabulously depict the variations and unexpected changes in mortal human lives. People may try to prepare for the onslaught of life's tribulations, but no one can foresee every possibility and effect. Works Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. Emily Barrosse. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 684-696. Print. O'Brien, Tim. “The things they carried.” Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. Emily Barrosse. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 553-562. Print.