Jimmy Cross’s Final Decision in OBriens, The Things They...

In the story, â€Å"The Things They Carried†, author Tim O’Brien described specific items that each of his soldiers carried with them to the Vietnam War front. The items that the soldiers carried were for mental protection; they believed that the things they carried would take their minds off all the terror and violence that was going on around them. The protagonist, Lieutenant Jimmy cross, carries out letters from a girl named Martha, which leads to him losing his focus for the war and a lack of protection for his fellow soldiers. The death of Ted Lavender tested Lieutenant Cross’ loyalty to his men, his imagination of Martha, and the significance relating to each of the items the soldiers’ carry. Lieutenant Cross’ love for Martha’s†¦show more content†¦One of his biggest fantasies about Martha was her being a virgin. In his mind, it was as if Martha belonged to him already from the way he fantasized about her. The way he fanta sized about Martha can be described as â€Å"over the limit†. He often wondered who was taking pictures that Martha sent him because he could see the shadow of another person. All Lieutenant Cross wanted was to be with Martha on the shoreline of Jersey walking barefooted and caring about nothing but Martha. The author, Tim O’Brien gives us a detailed prescription of each item that the soldiers carried with them. â€Å"The things they carried were determined by necessity† (389). Each soldier took something that has huge significance and impact with them to the war front. Also a vivid description of the reason why what was kept where gave a better insight into how important each item was to the soldiers. The use of â€Å"slangs† to describe certain things, like MM, which meant medical supplies (392) is also a significant topic in the story. â€Å"what they carried varied by mission†, â€Å"When a mission took them to the mountains, they carr ied mosquito netting, machetes, canvas tarps, and extra bug juice† (393). The reality with which one can relate to soldiers’s reason for carrying what they carried, is vividly described by the author. It describes how â€Å"Kiowa always took along his