Jimmy Cross Character Analysis

Worthy or a waste of space? One may ask themselves, “What qualities make up a worthy person?” A worthy person is defined as having adequate or great merit, character, or value; a person worthy to lead (Dictionary.com). In the book The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien writes of many soldiers, Lt. Jimmy Cross, and how they live their lives through the Vietnam War. Lieutenant Cross is one of the most responsible characters in the book, this is an example of a worthy or lasting human. A waste of space is a dump, someone who is not faithful and careless. Curt Lemon is an example of a wasted space according to O’Brien. Lemon is very careless and killed because of a childish act. Cross is an example of a worthy human, while on the other hand Lemon …show more content…
In the short story The Things They Carried, Cross is introduced first as compassionate and caring. For example, “unwrap the letters, hold them with the tips of his fingers…” This shows that he was very delicate with these letters, not only was he delicate with the letters but he was delicate with his life. Cross comes off as the most responsible soldier mentioned in the book because he is in charge of everyone. One must have great responsibility in order to be a Lieutenant in the army, especially at a time of such a great war like Vietnam. However, Cross does question his ability at times to lead his men. Curt Lemon steps on rigged mortar and dies. This is an example of carelessness and foolishness. This makes Lemon a wasted spaced character in this book. O’ Brien uses Lemon as an example of a wasted space. ‘The Dentist’ is where he is mentioned the most. Lemon is very aggressive and always trying to show off in front of his piers. If one shows off and is very selfish this makes a wasted space. Nobody wants a show off or aggressive person in their …show more content…
When O’Brien supposedly kills a man he is there to comfort him. O’Brien explains the story of Linda to Kiowa and he listens to him. Sadly Kiowa ends up passing away by drowning in poop. Kiowa is an example of a worthy human because he respects and cares for the individuals by listening and concerned for the others well being. Guilty, guilty, guilty. Norman Bowker is a prime example of the cross between a wasted space and being worthy. In “Notes” Bowker kills himself because of a guilty conscience. He only kills himself because he outlives his buddies in the war, therefore he feels guilty. Why would he kill himself if he feels guilty? That is an example of a wasted space because his “buddies” would have wanted him to live. Wasted or not everyone has the qualities of being worthy or wasted. In The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien shows us the qualities and characteristics of a wasted or worthy space. Lemon is a wasted space while on the other hand Cross is a worthy