Characters
The story contains a number of characters including Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, Martha (who is an abse…
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Jimmy Cross
Jimmy Cross is the main character of the story and the one whom the narrator follows as the events unfold. His outer characterization reveals that is a First Lieutenant (p. 1, l. 1) and that he is 24 years old (p. 8, l. 14).
His inner characterization reveals that Jimmy is madly in love with Martha, a girl who is an English major at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey. Jimmy is depicted re-reading her letters, admiring her photographs and constantly imagining being with her:
In his wallet, Lieutenant Cross carried two photographs of Martha. The first was a Kodacolor snapshot signed Love, though he knew better. She stood against a brick wall. Her eyes were gray and neutral, her lips slightly open as she stared straighton at the camera. At night, sometimes, Lieutenant Cross wondered who had taken the picture… (p. 2, ll. 30-35)
Ironically, the first thing we find out about Jimmy Cross is not his courage on the battlefield, but his love for a woman who might not feel the same for him. From the very beginning, this information sets the readers’ expectations when it comes to Jimmy Cross: he is obviously a romantic and a daydreamer, rather than a hard-headed leader.
Nevertheless, because he is the platoon leader…
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The soldiers
The collective character of the soldiers is depicted in two ways: first, through the physical and material things they carry with them; secondly, through the emotions that define them.
When it comes to the material items, the narrator reveals that each soldier carries with him the items he finds necessary:
The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. (p. 1, ll. 23-28)
However, for some of the soldiers, some items are more important than others. This is why some of the soldiers carry tranquilizers, extra rations of food, condoms, diaries or religious books, according to their beliefs and personal necessities.
The soldiers also carry different physical items according to their rank:
As a first lieutenant and platoon leader, Jimmy Cross carried a compass, maps, code books, binoculars, and a .45-caliber pistol that weighed 2.9 pounds fully loaded. He carried …
