Analysis of Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"

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In Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried", Lieutenant Cross has no choice but to put down his dreams to carry his new reality. The story introduces the reader to a young man who fills his head with dreams and hope of a better life, with the girl that he loves. Guilt begins to drive the hopeful Lieutenant becoming a better leader. Shifting his personality to harsh and cold allows him to have a firmer grip on the remaining men he leads. Destroying the only things that help him escape his harsh reality, grant Cross the ability to better control his focus on his duties at hand. Lieutenant cross has to become a great leader by giving both emotional and physical entities of himself. After losing one of his soldiers, Cross evolves into a hard-hearted leader. ‘
Not only carrying physical burdens, hauling the feeling of guilt around cause a change in Cross. Realizing that focusing on his fantasies more than on his men causes death, drives Lieutenant Cross to become a better leader. "Lavender was dead. You couldn't burn the blame". Getting rid of any and every distraction cannot bring back th...

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