The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim OBriens Story The...

The Burdens of Lt. Jimmy Cross in Tim OBriens Story The Things They Carried One of the most overlooked aspects in the life of a soldier is the weight of the things they carry. In Tim OBriens story, The Things They Carried, OBrien details the plight of Vietnam soldiers along with how they shoulder the numerous burdens placed upon them. Literally, the heavy supplies weigh down each soldier -- but the physical load imposed on each soldier symbolizes the psychological baggage a soldier carries during war. Though OBrien lists the things each soldier carries, the focal point centers around the leader, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, and his roles in the war. Lt. Cross has multiple burdens, but his emotional baggage is†¦show more content†¦This statement suggests that he wants to taste her, yet they have not (or will not) kiss each other. Furthermore, this provides evidence that his insatiable love for her is a weighty test for Lt. Cross -- and this burdensome weight drives Lt. Cross to become detached from important situations. Psychologically, Marthas lett ers make Lt. Cross fixated on his love, which the reader supposes is unreciprocated by Martha. Clearly, Lt. Cross wants a mutually loving relationship with Martha, evidenced when the narrator states, More than anything, he wanted Martha to love him as he loved her (434). Twice in the first two pages, Lt. Cross notes, They were not love letters (434). Furthermore, when Marthas salutation, ?Love, Martha, is mentioned, Lt. Cross sadly resigns and understood that ?Love was only a way of signing and did not mean what he sometimes pretended it meant (435). These thoughts are not obsessive in and of themselves, but the fact that Lt. Cross mulls over these overwhelming feelings while leading a group of soldiers suggests that Martha is an inordinate weight on Lt Cross shoulders. Martha also weighs upon Lt. Cross actions (or lack thereof). Early in the story, the reader can see how Martha is a distraction during troop movements. Tasting the letter from Martha does not directly distract Lt. Cross from his duties, but it does lead the reader to believe that she is too often the focus of hisShow MoreRelatedThe Things They Carried By Tim O Brien862 Words   |  4 Pagesweight throughout his short story â€Å"The Things They Carried†, Tim O’Brien highlights its pivotal symbolism: the intense burden of fear, especially of their own mortality, experienced by the soldiers, and thus weight’s role as the most important word in the text. O’Brien accomplishes this effect through recurring references to weight in relation to Ted Lavender’s death, and his frequent use of weight and weightlessness metaphors in the dreams of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and the other soldiers. UsingRead MoreThe Things They Carried by Tim O’brien1610 Words   |  7 PagesThe Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien Plot: 1. 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As they walked through the jungles and swamps of South Vietnam, they carried weapons, equipment, personal items, and also carried the dead and wounded off the battlefield as well as the guilt for having survived. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried the responsibility for the men under his command and guilt about the war theyRead MoreRoleof Women in the Things They Carried2644 Words   |  11 Pagesfraternizing with the enemy.† Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is neither about the battle of sexes nor is it a feminist manifesto. The literary inferences, socio-political context, portrayal of various female characters, and their influence on the male characters truly depict changes in the social perception of gender roles, resulting conflict, and their outcome for American society. Along with all the things the men of the Alpha Company carried, they also took on the burden of feelings of love forRead MoreThe Things they Carried by Tim O ´Brien1948 Words   |  8 PagesWar instills fear since everyone dreads involvement in the ordeal (Mazlish 10). The experience of war leaves people with physical and psychological scars. Tim Obrien in â€Å"The Things they Carried† brings to light the tribulations faced by the soldiers in their quest to restore peace. He asserts, ‘war is hell (Brien 8).’This is an exhilarating story that brings to light the fact that, despite their participation in the war, soldiers are still human. Stanley Kubrick echoes Obrien’s sentiments in his award