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The young lieutenant blames himself for Lavender's death as he realizes that his love for Martha had prevented him from properly guiding and protecting his men. When the dark falls upon the Alpha Company, Cross digs a foxhole and stands at its bottom weeping. "In part he was grieving for Ted Lavender, but mostly it was for Martha, and for himself, because she belonged to another world [...] and because he realized she did not love him and never would." (O'Brien)
The morning following Ted's death, Lieutenant Cross throws Martha's photographs and letters in the foxhole and sets them on fire. This moment represents the character's change in feelings and behavior. Now that he realizes the seriousness of war and his true responsibilities, he swears to forget about love and only concentrate on his platoon. He no longer wants his daydreams and memories of Martha to occupy his mind. And he will properly instruct his men, even if they do not like it. He understands that a lieutenant has to protect his men even if this means putting aside his social life.
By burning the photographs...
He hopes that once he forgets about Martha, he will become sharper and will be better able to handle his role and position within the war.
Ted Lavender's death had an incredibly strong impact on the central character as it increased the weight of his burdens. Realizing how difficult it was to cope with the war, Cross decided to renounce his emotional burdens. He believed that by no longer thinking of Martha, he would be better able to organize himself and protect his men. But soon after the papers burnt, he knew his act had been in vain. He already knew by heart all the details in the photographs and he had memorized all the words Martha had ever written him. "He realized it was only a gesture...Besides, the letters were in his head." (O'Brien)
The misperception of war, the unshared love, the death of a soldier and the guilt felt are the four major elements that highlight the hero's path from young and sensitive Jimmy Cross to powerful Lieutenant Cross.
Bibliography
O'Brien, T., the Things They Carried, Broadway, December 29, 1998
Nielson, J., Warring Fictions: American Literary Culture and the Vietnam War Narrative, University Press of Mississippi, December 1998
Talbott, J.E., Soldiers, Psychiatrists and Combat Trauma, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Volume 27, Number 3, 1997
Bibliography
O'Brien, T., the Things They Carried, Broadway, December 29, 1998
Nielson, J., Warring Fictions: American Literary Culture and the Vietnam War Narrative, University Press of Mississippi, December 1998
Talbott, J.E., Soldiers, Psychiatrists and Combat Trauma, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Volume 27, Number 3, 1997
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