![]() O'Brien moves from employing the literary technique of describing the soldiers' physical artifacts to introducing the novel's primary characters. Cross as the carrier of these possessions as well as of his love for Martha. Cross's actions by emphasizing the artifacts - Martha's letters and photograph - and characterizes Lt. O'Brien underscores the importance of Lt. Cross as "pretending." Pretending is a form of storytelling, that is, telling stories to oneself. Importantly, as he thinks about Martha, he does not merely recall memories of her instead he imagines what might be, such as "romantic camping trips" into the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Cross moves through the rigorous daily motions of combat duty, his mind dwells on Martha. Cross carries all these things, but in addition carries the lives of his men.Įven as O'Brien opens The Things They Carried, he sets forth the novel's primary themes of memory and imagination and the opportunity for mental escape that these powers offer. ![]() He also carries memories of their date and regrets that he did not try to satisfy his desire to become intimate with her by tying her up and touching her knee. Many of these soldiers "hump," or carry, photographs, and Lieutenant Cross has an action shot of Martha playing volleyball. Cross is singled out from the group, and O'Brien offers the most detail about his interior feelings and thoughts. O'Brien's technique also allows each character to be introduced with a history and a unique place within the group of men. O'Brien's extended catalog of items creates a picture in the reader's mind that grows incrementally. They also carry their grief, terror, love, and longing, with poise and dignity. O'Brien details at great length what all the men carry: standard gear, weapons, tear gas, explosives, ammunitions, entrenching tools, starlight scopes, grenades, flak jackets, boots, rations, and the Army newsletter. The details of what each man carries are funneled through the memory of this narrator. It is important to note, too, how the details are selective they are recalled by a character, the unnamed narrator of the chapter. This device is an example of the author and narrator embedding small details in the text that will be further explained later in the book. The narrator offers additional detail about selected items for example, the poncho Ted Lavender carries will later be used by his fellow soldiers to carry his dead body. Rat Kiley carries his medical kit, brandy, comic books, and M&M's candy. Kiowa carries a volume of the New Testament and moccasins. Mitchell Sanders carries condoms, brass knuckles, and the unit's radio. Dave Jensen carries soap, dental floss, foot powder, and vitamins. ![]() Henry Dobbins carries a machine gun and his girlfriend's pantyhose. The level of detail O'Brien offers about the characters is expanded upon and illuminated in the chapters that follow, though O'Brien distills the essence of each characters' personality through the symbolic items each carries. O'Brien introduces readers to the novel's primary characters by describing the articles that the soldiers carry. Other members of the unit are introduced through descriptions of the things they carry, such as Henry Dobbins who carries extra food, Ted Lavender who carries tranquilizer pills, and Kiowa who carries a hunting hatchet. Cross's picture of and feelings for Martha. The narrator lists things that the soldiers carry with them, both tangible and intangible, such as Lt. Her letters do not indicate that she feels the same way. He thinks about letters she wrote him he thinks about whether or not she is a virgin he thinks about how much he loves her and wants her to love him. Cross is preoccupied by thoughts of Martha, a young woman he dated before he joined the Army. An unnamed narrator describes in third person the thoughts and actions of Jimmy Cross, the lieutenant of an Army unit on active combat duty in the Vietnam War.
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