After Lavender’s death, LT Cross is filled with a deep sorrow and regret. LT Cross holds himself accountable for not being able to protect her, believing that he could have done something more to prevent her death.
In a moment of grief, he strikes his beloved guitar in rage.
In the weeks following Lavender’s passing, LT Cross spends his days in his family’s farmhouse, deeply depressed and contemplating his mortality. He begins to write songs in her honor and dedicates them to her.
He begins a memorial in her name and organizes a fundraiser to help support her family in their time of need.
LT Cross also visits the battlefield more often and contemplates the significance of life and death in war. He talks to the other soldiers about Lavender and reminisces about the happy times they shared together.
In spite of his pain, LT finds solace in the moments he shared with her.
Ultimately, LT Cross is able to find peace and acceptance of his own mortality. He is able to move past his grief and dedicate his remaining days fighting for a cause that is bigger than himself – the preservation of freedom and justice.
In doing so, LT Cross finds comfort and peace in remembering Lavender and cherishing the time they had together.
How does Lt Cross change in the things they carried?
Lt Cross in the Tim O’Brien’s short story “The Things They Carried” undergoes quite a transformation in his character. Originally Lt Cross starts off as a stereotypical leader, stiff, obedient and full of pride.
Early on in the story Lt Cross is so focused on fulfilling his duties as a leader and meeting the expectations that come with that role that he has no time for any other emotions and thoughts other than those revolving around the war and being a leader.
He places a heavy burden of responsibility on himself as a result of his obligation to get his men home safely, doing whatever it takes to make that happen. We can sense the weight of all these responsibilities as he transfers the letter written to him by Martha so he can gain a sense of control and power, but also a sense of comfort that Martha knows and is willing to accept his responsibility for the men’ death’s and injuries even if no one else will.
Over the course of the story, Lt Cross changes as a result of his escalating confidence in himself and his men. Through his selfless actions and decisions, he slowly begins to understand the dynamics of being a successful leader, as well as allowing his men to make decisions for themselves when needed.
He also develops a strong bond and sense of camaraderie with his men as he comes to realize the importance of forming genuine relationships and attachment, as evidenced by his infamous scene carrying all of his men’s gear for them.
The death of Kiowa in particular appears to have the greatest impact on Lt Cross’ character. He begins to take each individual tragedy personally, as seen by his breakdown while trying to find Kiowa’s floating body in the field.
We can truly feel Lt Cross’ emotions and feelings of grief in this scene, which offers a contrast to his original distant, task-focused attitude. In the end, Lt Cross manages to tap into his emotional side over the course of the story and come away with a newfound understanding of being a leader and the importance of not just succeeding as a leader but connecting with your men as well.
How does Kiowa react to Lavender’s death?
Kiowa is deeply affected by Lavender’s death. He is filled with grief and regret and his emotions quickly overwhelm him. He blames himself for Lavender’s death, as he believes he should have done more to protect him.
Kiowa is so overcome with sorrow that he wears a black ribbon in his hair in Lavender’s memory, never removing it for a year until it falls off. He also takes to carrying Lavender’s boots with him as a reminder of him and his death.
Kiowa is consumed with guilt, wondering why he survived and Lavender did not. He keeps to himself, avoiding most of the other men in his unit and gradually withdraws into himself. Kiowa is so consumed with his pain and guilt that it stands out as not simply overwhelming sadness but a very intense emotion.
He never fully recovers from Lavender’s death, and he carries the memory of it with him even decades later.
What character changed the most in The Things They Carried?
The character who underwent the most transformation throughout The Things They Carried is Lt. Jimmy Cross. When we first meet him in the book, he is a young, idealistic soldier and leader of Alpha Company full of ambition, ambition to prove himself and his men, take responsibility for all their lives, and even fulfill his fantasy of being a great leader, admired and respected by all.
This quickly changes as the soldiers are faced with the reality of the war around them. Lt. Cross begins to recognize the magnitude of the war, and the futility of fighting a faceless enemy. He also shows evidence of guilt surrounding the death of Ted Lavender, a soldier under his command.
Throughout the book, we witness Lt. Cross’s change from an optimistic, idealistic leader to a much more cautious, weary, and disillusioned leader of Alpha Company. He seems to lose hope in himself and in those around him, and we see him struggling with the heavy burden of leadership and the guilt associated with sending soldiers to their death.
He is also faced with his own internal battle with the thought of his unrequited love for Martha and how it affects not only him, but his men as well. In the end, Lt. Cross is able to partially come to terms with his own feelings and those of his men, and this gives him the strength to lead Alpha Company with a renewed sense of determination, courage, and honor.
What do we learn about Lieutenant Jimmy Cross?
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is a complex and nuanced character in Timothy O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried. He is a thoughtful and reflective soldier, who often dwells on memories of his past and daydreams about Martha, a college girl he met before enlisting in the army.
Cross is a young and inexperienced leader who is often overwhelmed by the tasks that fall to him in Vietnam. He feels a deep responsibility to the members of his platoon, which leads him to take action to protect them even when it defies orders.
In one instance, he chooses to relocate his men in the night despite being told not to move. He also shows sensitivity and compassion toward his soldiers, going out of his way to put their needs above his own.
This includes taking the burden of weight on himself rather than make them bear it, as well as listening to their stories. Cross’s inner conflict between his duty as a lieutenant and his own personal desires to be with Martha is an essential part of his story and helps to drive the narrative forward.
Through experiences both during and after his time in Vietnam, we ultimately learn that Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is capable of handling immense pressure and responsibility, even if it takes a toll on him personally.
Why does LT Cross feel responsible for the situation?
LT Cross feels responsible for the situation because he is the leader of the unit, and it is his job to make sure his soldiers are safe and prepared for battle. He knows that it is his responsibility as a leader to ensure that his men are able to do their jobs, and that they will come out of every situation unscathed.
He also knows that in war, things can go wrong and that he, as the leader, must be able to make the best decision when it comes to protecting his soldiers. In this case, he was not able to do that, which is why he feels responsible.
He is likely struggling with guilt, feeling as though he could have and should have done more to protect his men. He may also be feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility and realize that he cannot control every situation.
How does LT Cross become first lieutenant?
LT Cross becomes first lieutenant by dedicating himself to his military service and striving for excellence in everything he does. He applied himself to every task set before him and sought out challenges.
He completed his basic and advanced military training with distinction, worked hard to advance in rank, and consistently demonstrated leadership qualities that earned him the respect of his peers. He also worked to build good relationships with his superiors, which eventually helped him secure a promotion to first lieutenant.
Additionally, LT Cross regularly took part in extra duties, helping to ensure the security of his unit and lending his expertise to more experienced officers. Through his hard work and dedication, he eventually gained the recognition he deserved and was promoted to first lieutenant.
Why does Lieutenant Cross blame himself?
Lieutenant Cross blames himself for the death of Ted Lavender because he believes he failed in his duty to protect the lives of the members of his platoon. As their leader, he sees it as his responsibility to ensure the safety of his soldiers and feels that his negligence led to Lavender’s death.
Cross also believes that his obsession with Martha, the woman he is in love with back home, distracted him from his duties and caused him to not pay as close attention to the situation as he should have, leading to Lavender’s death.
In the story, he reflects on the situation, stating “All he had done is sneak a few letters to Martha and here was Ted dead. ” Cross’s guilt is further exacerbated by his guilt at not being able to share in Lavender’s death, something that other members of the platoon are able to do.
Ultimately, Lieutenant Cross blames himself for Lavender’s death because he believes that he has failed in his duty as a leader to protect his men.
