Jimmy Cross Sacrifice

Humanity and war have co-existed ever since anybody can remember. It could be said that this trait is ingrained within human nature, and that as long as humans exist, so will war. Just as there are two sides to every argument, others disagree, stating that humans are peaceful beings and war just happens to follow humanity everywhere. Despite this, it can be safely assumed that behind every war, there is a certain sacrifice the participants pay. Some sacrifice is physical, such as a missing arm or leg, another type of sacrifice is emotional, such as getting divorced due to not being around with the family as often. However, there remains one type of sacrifice which is much deadlier and much more difficult to detect that both physical and emotional

This short story allows the reader to see the psychological effects of war alongside Lt. Cross’s team, in the middle of the battlefield. In the short story, the title describes the heavy equipment, weapons, explosives and kits they carried to stay alive throughout their journey (O’Brien 1004). Furthermore, the title can be deciphered to compare the heavy mental burden the soldiers have to carry, which is caused by the war. The things the soldiers carried can also mean the weight of the world they are feeling in the midst of a hostile jungle in a hostile country. The relationship between Lt. Cross and his team can be noticed as he barely communicates with them, although he’s their leader. Cross finds solace and peace by staring at the picture of his sweetheart, Martha, and uses her pictures to find some quiet from the war raging around him. Martha is the fantasy to Jimmy’s reality. Being stuck as a leader, the war forced Lt. Cross to become lonely, and his leadership suffered as his need to be with Martha grew. He craved Martha’s innocence, purity and her peace of mind, things that he wished he could have. After Ted Lavender’s death, Lt. Cross snaps out of his daydreams and fantasies, focusing instead to help out his

(British Medical Journal 475) Mental illness in the two short stories can easily be noticed from a reader’s perspective. Lt. Cross was becoming increasingly obsessed with Martha, and just could not get her out of his head. He was gradually becoming insane. Henry was clearly suffering from PTSD upon his return and his drowning in the river was no accident, as it suicide. Henry experienced one of the worst things someone could imagine, lived through it, and could not cope with the heavy weight, and chose to find peace by committing suicide. Suicide, mental illness and worsening relationships with people around are all causes of psychological injuries sustained by soldiers in the frontlines because of war. Henry from The Red Convertble and Lt. Jimmy Cross from The Things they carried both had to deal firsthand with the Vietnam war and the mental hardships it caused them. They are firsthand examples of the deep cuts war can install on somebody’s wellbeing. Humanity and war have existed side by side from the beginning, and will continue to do so. And all throughout human history, and its future, the psychological aspects of war will never