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Jimmy Cross In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

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Character Analyze on “The Things They Carried” “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’ Brien, is a story about taking responsibility for one’s actions. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is the main character of the story. Jimmy is a lieutenant in the Vietnam War, and is obsess with a girl named Martha. This obsession leads to the death of Ted Lavender. Where Jimmy blames himself for the death of Lavender’s, and not only Jimmy and his men have to carry equipment, but also have to carry the guilt of Lavender death with them. The story ends with Jimmy burning the letters from Martha and taking responsibility for Lavender’s death. The central idea of “The Things They Carried” is that sometimes when facing with crises, one may or may not rise step up …show more content…

He also shows he unable to take care of his men because “he loved [Martha] more than … his men” (953). As shown when Lavender dies when Jimmy was day dreaming about Martha. Lavender death cause Jimmy to resolve his internal conflict and “burned Martha’s letters” (961) and remove Martha from his thoughts. Jimmy blames himself for Lavender’s death and was a consequence for loving “Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead” (958). Which then cause Jimmy to take responsibility for Lavender’s death become a better leader. The external conflict Jimmy faces is Lavender’s death. Lavender’s death cause Jimmy to become a better leader from his men as shown as he “shut down the daydreaming” (962). This shows that Jimmy well stop thinking about Martha and focus more on the war instead. Jimmy Cross is a dynamic character. Lavender’s death cause Jimmy to stop daydreaming about Martha and causes Jimmy to take his role of lieutenant more seriously, and accept the blame for Lavender. “The Things They Carried” is a story about owning up to one responsibility. Jimmy at first does not take his responsibility of lieutenant seriously, but the demise of Ted Lavender cause Jimmy to own up his responsibility. In the end, the reader understands like Jimmy Cross one must take responsibility for

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