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Paper 3 Tim Obrien's The Things They Carried is a chronicle of the events that take place in the life of one army squad. OBrien narrates these events as they are lived by Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. Jimmy Cross not only carries his necessities but also the burden of being responsible for his mens lives. The story begins describing the non-love letters Jimmy Cross receives from the woman with whom he is madly in love. He realizes that his love is not reciprocated but is nonetheless hopeful that one day the feelings might be mutual. OBrien informs the reader how both the physical and mental needs of the members of the squad are seen by what each man humps.
The word? humped? s? meaning is greater than to merely carry something, because the burdens the men bare are far beyond what is evident to the naked eye. The point of greatest irony in the story is that what might be conceived as the source of one individuals strength causes the death of another. OBrien shows the reader that the material things carried through life becomes inconsequential when death is dealt with.
The main character in this short story is Lieutenant Jimmy Cross. His love for a young girl, Martha, is shown by his humping of her letters and his constant contemplating of what it would mean if his love was corresponded. Dreaming of Martha provides an opportunity for peace in the chaotic world that surrounds him. It enables him to place the war and the enormous responsibility he carries for his men aside. This lack of attention was the reason Ted Lavender was dead because he [Jimmy Cross] loved her [Martha] so much and could not stop thinking about her.
It is Ted Lavenders loss that leads Jimmy Cross to confront the reality of the consequences of his loss of awareness: He felt shame. He hated himself. He grieved because he realized she did not love him and never would. This realization brings him to a new level in which he will perform his duties firmly and without negligence.
Ted Lavender is the most important supporting character. It is his death that brings the story together. OBrien shows that even though Ted Lavenders fears made him carry tranquilizers and premium dope, without which he could not go through his daily routine, they did not allow him to escape death. As part of a squad he depended not only on himself but also on the team of men lead by Jimmy Cross whose lives and survival were intricately weaved and who shared the duty of serving and protecting their country. Lavenders death was the bi-product of Jimmy's lack of involvement in the reality that enclosed them.
It is through the death of Ted Lavender that Jimmy Cross was? determined to perform his duties firmly and without negligence? . This storys main conflict is that of man versus destiny. It is rooted in war and thus reflects the internal and external strife of all those involved.
Jimmy Cross is responsible for a squad of men who face death on every corner and have left behind their families and friends. They are all realize there is no turning back thus assimilate the situation and foster hope to some day return to their homes. They are in? another world, where no pretty poems or midterm exams, a place where men died because or carelessness and gross stupidity. ? The men in the squad escape through their pictures, letters and dope.
Even though they are fully aware of where they are they generally live emotionally detached from their surroundings. The supporting conflict is that of man versus himself. It is the main character, Jimmy Cross, who? s thoughts carry him far from reality when he dreams of Martha. He endures the war by thinking of the love they might share but knows that there is no truth in such an idea. This inner conflict comes to halt with the death of Ted Lavender.
He is forced to face the authenticity of where he was and what he believes. He realizes that in the? letters Martha had never mentioned the war, except to say, Jimmy, take care of yourself. She wasn? t involved.
She signed her letters? Love? but it wasn? t love, and all the fine lines and technicalities did not matter?
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Research essay sample on Lieutenant Jimmy Cross Ted Lavender
