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The Things They Killed Jim Cross Character Analysis

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Viet Nam War was a terrible phobia to Vietnamese and American whenever it is mentioned; It was horrible, dolorous, and sanguinary war. O'Brien with a success of the story " The things They carried'', and he also said some aspects of Vietnam war. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is a protagonist of the story; he has a mad love with Martha. Although Jimmy Cross is very young, he is '' As a lieutenant and platoon leader First. '' (Brien 36)-- his duty is '' Responsibility for the lives of his man. '' (Brien). Moreover, every story always has a theme; the changing of characters and situations will make a theme of the story. Therefore, What is theme of the story’’ The things They carried’’ O’Brien suggest for readers ?. One of an assumption of O’Brien …show more content…

Jimmy Cross blames himself that Ted’s death is his fault;’’ He would accept the blame for what had happened to Ted Lavender’’( 351) because he did not complete his duty---responsibility for living of his men.--‘’felt shame’’, ‘’hated himself’’, ‘’ grieve for Ted Lavender’’ ( 345). From now, the things Jimmy Cross carries is disappointed, regretful, guilty, and depressed; moreover, Ted Lavender is an obsession for him at this time. Jimmy Cross also realize that Martha is the reason that he can not concentrate on his mission and leads to the death of Ted Lavender; therefore, he decided to ‘’burned the two photographs’’,’’ disposed of his good-luck pebble’’, ‘’ dispense with love’’. Although it is very difficult to get Martha away in his mind, he really loves her so much, it is the only thing that he can do to forget Martha. Now, ‘’ Lieutenant Cross reminded himself that his obligation was not to be loved but to lead’’. He is trying to do become a real leader and do a truly outstanding accomplishment of his duties to appease the remorse about the death of Ted—without thinking about Martha. After the death of Ted, it shows that he is a real man because he takes responsibility for what he did and how to handle with his mind. Although it is very hard for him to forget Martha, his heart gets will pain and his love for Martha is done, he tries to do it. Jimmy Cross also realized that important

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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.

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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).

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