The Things They Carried— What weighs more, the physical or emotional things they carried?

The things they carried weighed at least one hundred pounds.  But that is only part of what they carried, it is only physical, actual weight. They also carried emotional weight which they buried deep inside them, afraid to make their feelings known.  They carried the desire to return home, the responsibility for their lives and the lives of others, the fear of death, and the guilt after someone died or after they killed someone.  They carried honor, from "the things men did or felt they had to do," out of the fear of dishonor (O'Brien 24).  Unlike physical weight, they could not set down the emotional weight, they carried it with them at all times.  They found ways to cope with their fear or sadness, like through laughter or violence, but the relief was only temporary and superficial.  When the physical weight became more than a soldier could bear, someone else could take a few things to lighten his load. Although many of the men carried similar feelings and fears, they did not share the burden of these emotions since they hid them inside.  If the physical weight became too much, they could leave some things on their way go another place, but their emotions always stayed with them.  Although physical weight is measurable and calculable, it is only easier to define, and not necessarily heavier than emotional weight.