Shame and self-hatred surface when Lieutenant Cross realizes “…Ted Lavender [is] dead because he [loves] her [Martha] so much and [cannot] stop thinking about her” (326). Furthermore, the pebble that once symbolized his affection for Martha is replaced with a figurative “stone in his stomach” (332), representative of his guilt. In order to begin to remove his distracting infatuation with Martha, Cross takes the following action: “On the morning after Ted Lavender [dies], First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross [crouches] at the bottom of his foxhole and [burns] Martha’s letters. Then he [burns] the two photographs” (336). Cross’ burning of Martha’s letters and photographs is a physical representation of the transformation in his personality and priorities.
After Ted Lavender died, Jimmy burned Martha’s letters and photos and promised himself never to get distracted again. Jimmy realize that he was living a fantasy and that it was time for him
He couldn’t help it (432).” This tells you that he is still just a boy at this point, but he knows that he should not be thinking of Martha he should be worrying about the lives of his men. Even so, Lavender is now dead and Jimmy holds himself responsible: “He would dispose of his good luck pebble. Swallow it, maybe… (437).” Mainly he is trying to get rid of all feelings for Martha, he cared more for her and himself, but he does care also about his
The excerpt from the story “The Things they Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a story of Triumph, and yet in such a melancholy way. I am glad that Lieutenant Cross was able to overcome his daydreaming and lead his men, yet at what cost. The lot of all the men outlined in his platoon seems a grim one. O’Brien sets the story in Vietnam, though this is not explicitly mentioned, the characters surroundings, the equipment they and their enemies possess, and the names of the cities make this evident. The setting is absolutely pertinent to the story.
Tim Obrien’s 1990 story “The Things They Carried” describes the experience of a group of soldiers in the Vietnam War. The soldiers are under the responsibility of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. With Jimmy, he carries his love for Martha, and it distracts him from his duty. In the end, he tries to forget Martha because he thinks the death of Ted Lavender is his fault because he was distracted. Respectively, each soldier carries assets that are material and mental.
Throughout history, the United States have only drafted soldiers in two wars, World War II and Vietnam. Thousands of teenagers who had just turned 18 were selected to go fight overseas in Vietnam. Soldiers only had eight weeks to prepare before getting deployed in enemy territory. The young soldiers that were drafted were assigned to infantry positions. The horrifying eyewitness accounts the soldiers witnessed led to psychological changes in their behavior for the rest of their lives.
Throughout “The Things They Carried” O’Brien focuses on guilt through Lieutenant Cross’s reaction to Ted Lavender’s death. Lieutenant Cross’s guilt stems from the fact that he “love[s] Martha more than his men” (621). Cross allows himself to be distracted by daydreams of Martha, rather than focusing on keeping his men alive. Even in the line of duty, Martha occupies his thoughts. His love for Martha resulted in Lavender’s death.
Cross blames himself, knowing “He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead…” (p. 121). First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is distracted by his infatuation for Martha, which ultimately results in Ted Lavender’s death, forcing Cross to realize his fantasies for Martha are wrong and that he is not fulfilling his duties as a lieutenant. Lieutenant Cross is inattentive to the war and his responsibilities because he is unable and unwilling to stop thinking about his adoration for Martha.
Cross was forever changed because of Lavender’s death. While grieving, Cross admitted he, “...had loved Martha more than his men, and as a consequence Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry… for the rest of the war” (O’Brien 16). Immediately after Lavender’s death, Cross destroyed every trace of Martha and swore to himself that nothing would distract him from his duty. Guilt was Jimmy Cross’s toughest baggage that followed him through war and continued to haunt him for the rest of his
He accepted the blame of Ted Lavender’s death because he was more focused on Martha than he was about his troops. Wesley states that while Jimmy Cross accepts the blame he thinks this will make it all better by accepting heroic responsibility. This relieved the stress upon Cross and made him feel as if he was even more of a leader and not a coward. When Ted Lavender died they treated it as if it was nothing but a daily routine.
The Things They Carried “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a short story set during the Vietnam War. In the story, O’Brien lists many different items soldiers in the Alpha Company carried with them as they humped across the rugged terrain. Many carried necessities such as rations, matches, ammunition and things of that nature; however, many soldiers also carried quite peculiar objects such as condoms, pantyhose, and M&Ms. Readers can grasp a closer insight of the characters’ lives after further examination of the symbolism and meaning of the things they carried.
Tim O’Brien states, “Lavender was now dead, and this was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war” (O’Brien 16). In this quote, Tim O’Brien explains that since Jimmy Cross blames himself about Ted Lavender’s death, he will always be in lieutenant’s head. Thus, the lieutenant will always feel the guilt. With this, Tim O’Brien makes the reader think that Jimmy Cross is the person to blame since he is the head of the group and he has to pay more attention to his plans. Having questions about his love, Martha, in his mind instead of being careful about his men is the reason of him feeling guilty that “the lieutenant’s in some deep hurt” (17).
In The Things They Carried, O'Brien explores how shame can be shown in different ways for soldiers, including shame over their own actions, shame over their weaknesses, and shame over their inability to connect with or help others. One of the most notable examples of shame in the novel is the character of Jimmy Cross, who feels intense shame and guilt over the death of one of his men, Ted Lavender. Cross blames himself for Lavender's death, feeling that he was too distracted by his own thoughts of Martha to properly lead his army. This shame continues to trouble Cross long after the incident, even after he has left Vietnam.
A Wounded Soul In the Vietnam War, soldiers did not only carry approximately eighty five pounds of equipment, but the emotional burdens of war itself. The Things they Carried by Tim O’Brien gives insight to how the Vietnam War affected the lives, and minds of the servicemen. O’Brien shows the impact by explaining different stories that have stuck with him throughout his life, and even though Vietnam is over, the battle of a veterans mental health is the strongest fight they will endure. In evaluating the soldiers’ mindset, relationships, and acceptance in society post war, this essay argues the consequences of veterans unable to find their life meaning and sanity.
President Reagan was the 40th president of the United States and served from January 1981 to January 1989 as a Conservative leader. Conservatives believe in strong traditional values, free markets, and a limited government. Most conservatives blame the government for the country’s financial catastrophe. President Obama was the 44th president of the United States and he served from January 2009 to January 2017 as a Liberal leader. Liberals value freedom, equality, and are more accepting of change.
