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The Things They Carried Theme Analysis

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The Things They Carried Theme Analysis
"Love" and "death" are big two themes in The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien and O'Brien use two characters, Jimmy Cross and Martha, to talk about "love" in his story. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carries a compass, codebooks, and letters from Martha. He also carries Martha's good-luck pebble and photographs of her. He loves her, but Martha does not love him. Since he is in love with Martha, Cross reads her letter every night and hopes she loves him back someday. He seems to find hope that Martha might love him from the word "love Martha" at the end of the letter. During the war, all he can think of is Martha. Even when Lavender is shot, he only thinks about Martha. He feels comfort and relief from thinking about Martha during the War. He feels

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