A Cultural Studies Approach to “Enemies” in The Things They Carried. Two men arguing over a switchblade in "Enemies," a chapter from Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. A cultural studies approach to “Enemies” allows the reader to look much deeper into the meaning of the events that take place in “Enemies.” The knife fight may well reflect events that occurred in society during that time. In short, "Enemies" is about two men, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen, who fight not only in a war but also with each other. They were arguing fiercely over a missing switchblade. A question the reader might ask is: why were they fighting over a switchblade? Did it have any particular sentimental meaning? These questions cannot be answered; they can only be left wondering. Vietnam was a very mentally and physically taxing war to fight. At any moment any soldier could sprint. This is exactly what happens...