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Jimmy Cross Character Analysis Essay

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The men of war are not really men. They are boys expected to act like men, in the face of unknown danger. Called up from ROTC to serve in Vietnam, Jimmy Cross was unprepared maturely and did not believe in the war itself. Thus, as a lieutenant in the war, he endangers his men by being easily distracted. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is a kid, thrust into a leadership role, that has the goals and attitude of an adolescent, due to his weak mindedness and insecurity about Martha.
In the novel The Things They Carried Lieutenant Jimmy Cross has a flashback to a date he had with a volleyball player at the college he attended before the he left for the war. During the movie that they watch Jimmy tried to make a move by putting his hand on her knee, but she just looked at him that communicated that she did not fancy him. After the movie he kisses her good night outside her dorm room, a kiss that she fails to return. Jimmy longs to have a friendly date with Martha. Although, he is trying to start a failed relationship. He wishes to start a relationship with Martha right before he is to go to war in Vietnam. The future of the relationship is nonexistent considering how long he is going to be absent and the …show more content…
The fantasy of tying up Martha and touching the knee all night is a thought that exerts him as dominant over a situation in which he is a passive player. He is very insecure about their relationship. The actions that Jimmy takes all demonstrate that he must force the relationship if it is to continue. Martha has all the power in the relationship because Jimmy would do anything to receive any affection back from Martha. Also Jimmy is the only one putting any effort into the relationship. Jimmy wants to make Martha love him. He longs for her love so much that it affects his job in Vietnam. It affects mainly his focus and situational awareness that can be deadly in a war

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