The_Things_They_Carried

The Things They Carried The Things They Carried In Tim O'Briens story, "The Things They Carried," the name "Jimmy Cross" also symbolizes the cross that he bears with his distracting thoughts of Martha, Ted Lavenders death and the responsibility for the safety of his men. Throughout this story we read about what is carried by necessity as a soldier and specific to each rank and responsibility, yet, we rarely read about what emotional and mental baggage that Is carried. First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried his thoughts of a woman named Martha that he met prior to going to Vietnam. In his mind he felt he loved her. He hoped or wished that she loved him in the same way, yet he knew she didn't and he did not want to face the truth. Quite often his thoughts of her would distract him from his duties. During a tunnel search when he and his men were supposed to e keeping watch for the enemy, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross went to check the tunnel hole and went deep into thoughts of Martha. In reflection things, carried, men, martha, thoughts, ted, lieutenant, jimmy, cross, yet, tunnel, responsibility, one, lavender, daydreaming, carried, bring, about, soldiers, soldier, safety, reality, read, loved, keep, himself, death, cross', back, worry, won't, woman, wishful, wished, way, watching