Jimmy Cross Character Analysis Essay

The author, Tim O'Brien, is writing about an experience of a tour in the Vietnam conflict. This short story deals with inner conflicts of some individual soldiers and how they chose to deal with the realities of the Vietnam conflict, each in their own individual way as men, as soldiers.

The symbols in Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” are essential to understanding the soldiers and their lives during the Vietnam War. At the opening of the story, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross would dig into his foxhole and read the letters while imagining romance with Martha; however, at the end of the story after the death of Ted Lavender, he “crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha’s letters” (402). The inner feelings of Cross would be mistakenly ignored without the help of symbols throughout his travel through Vietnam. O’Brien uses the emotional and physical weight carried by the soldiers as a representation of their personalities and how they prefer to cope with the war. The

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor, the protagonist, is a farmer in his middle thirties. The author gives little to no detailed physical description of him, but from Proctor’s speech, we can still picture him as a strong and powerful man who is able to keep every situation under the control, the kind of personality which earns him deep respect and even fear from the people in town. On the other hand, Abigail Williams, the antagonist, plays an inferior role as an orphan who has no social status in a place like Salem. Over the course of the play, John Proctor is absolutely awakened and transformed by Abigail Williams. In the end, he overcomes the crucible by releasing himself from his guilt of

One of the most overlooked aspects in the life of a soldier is the weight of the things they carry. In Tim O'Brien's story, "The Things They Carried," O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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

In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried”, O’Brien created several allusions that each character endured during the Vietnam War. Throughout the story were vast representations of the things soldiers carried both mentally and physically. The things they carried symbolized their individual roles internally and externally. In addition to symbolism, imagination was a focal theme that stood out amongst the characters. This particular theme played a role as the silent killer amongst Lt. Cross and the platoon both individually and collectively as a group. The theme of imagination created an in depth look of how the war was perceived through each character which helped emphasize their thoughts from an emotional stand point of being young men out at war.

Through The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien moves beyond the horror of fighting in the Vietnam War to examine with sensitivity and insight the nature of courage and fear. Included, is a collection of interrelated stories. A few of the stories are brutal, while others are flawed, blurring the distinction between fact and fiction. All the stories, however, deal with one platoon. Some are about the wartime experiences of soldiers, and others are about a 43-year-old writer reminiscing about his platoon’s experiences. In the beginning chapter, O’Brien rambles about the items the soldiers carry into battle, ranging from can openers, pocketknives, and mosquito repellent o

1. How does O’Brien use The Things They Carried to cope with the psychological impact of his experience in the war?

Jimmy Cross is the First Lieutenant who carries “the responsibility for the lives of his men” (O’Brien 429). Cross let his imagined love get in the way of his responsibilities and one of his men was killed. Cross carries the weight of Lavender’s death and adds that to the weight of his renewed responsibility to his men (427-437).

In "The Things They Carried," O'Brien made reference to the Vietnam war that was closely associated with the physical, psychological, and emotional weight the soldiers beared.  The overall method of presentation of this story incorporated many different outlooks on the things the soldiers carried, dealt with, and were forced to adapt to.  In addition to this, O'Brien showed us the many reasons why and how the soldiers posessed these things individually and collectively and how they were associated directly and indirectly.  The strong historical content in "The Things They Carried" helped emphasize the focus of the story and establish a clearer understanding of details in the

During the Vietnam War Bowker carries a diary which is his way to escape what is really going on around him, and he carries a thumb that Mitchell Sanders cut off a VC soldier and gave to him. Bowker represents the effect known as the survivor guilt. Norman cannot forgive himself for outliving his friends who died in battle, and he feels like he was the reason why Kiowa died.

The literature character that I have selected to analyze is George from “The Veldt”. I will be making an in-depth look at both physical and psychological traits that George might posses. I picked George, since in the story he went through some major changes that seemed interesting to analyze. Also, I like how George is willing to go through those changes in his family. However, I dislike how George is easily convinced into doing things that he knows he should not do. I identify with this trait that George has because I dislike saying no to a person; thus, I am easily convinced to do things I know is wrong. George reminds me of my older sister, because they share many traits and habits. An example, both of them are obsessed with getting the newest technology, and they always have to have some sort of technology with them at all times.

O’Brien uses the opening scene as an introduction to all the things carried by each soldier in Vietnam. He uses Jimmy Cross as his primary focus, highlighting all the things he physically carries—a compress, a poncho, a rifle, maps, compasses, etc. He introduces other characters not by describing them personally, but by describing what they carry. For instance, because Ted Lavender is anxious, he carries marijuana and tranquilizers to keep himself calm. Kiowa, a religious man, carries an illustrated New Testament. Then, O’Brien delves more deeply into the act of “humping” items across Vietnam. He discusses the emotional burdens that soldiers carry deep inside—Jimmy Cross’s responsibility of keeping men alive, his unrequited love for Martha,

In “The Things They Carried”A team of Soldiers In the jungle of Vietnam, team was Jimmy Cross,Norman Bowker, Rat Kiley,Mitchell Sanders, Henry Dobbins, and Kiowa.Brien talks about how enemies and friend are alike and different and a friend in the campo curt lemon who made the dentist pull a good tooth out,And with Henry Dobbins smelled his girlfriend pantie hoes because it reminds him of memories. O’Brien never really went to church he believed but never wanted to go.O’Brien talked about the man he killed with the man's jaw in his throat and cheek with with three slashes into it the boy was laying in tiny blue flowers. With killing a man come the guilt but tries to forgive himself.Later O’Brien’s Daughter Asked him if he ever killed anyone

O’Brien narrative depicts the most traditional form of masculinity, a man characterized by physical strength. O’Brien emphasizes the physicality of a man and soldier by giving simple accounts of the items that the soldiers are carrying. This tangible burden becomes a symbol of male masculinity and a soldier’s requirement to physically survive. Militarized depictions of weaponry and battle-ready accessories become displays of virility and aggressive individuals. Consequently, the male figure can be viewed as a warrior and protector. Weaponry become a way of disconnecting from humanity. To each solider these items become a symbol of self-sufficiency. In male isolation, autonomy is vital. They cannot express themselves emotionally; therefore,

She is a shy, creative and smart black belt, also skilled at basketball and football. She and Crystal get asked to join a spy organisation and the girls immediate except. one mission may change their world, will they take it?.