"The Things They Carried," by Tim O'Brien, describes the weight of the things the soldiers of the Vietnam War carried through their journey. The story's tone is set by the weight of what these men "humped" on their backs. The lists of "the things they carried" extend the transformation from burdensome objects into heavy emotions of desire, confusion, and grief. The story revolves around the death of one of the soldiers, Ted Lavender. Ted Lavender is described as being scared and as one who always carried tranquilizers with him. Because he wants to move the reader to feel the importance of the men and Ted Lavender's death, Tim O'Brien describes every heavy detail of the "Things They Carried."
             Throughout the story, O'Brien lists every object, including its weight, each soldier carried. By using lists and trying to group the simple items the soldiers carried, O'Brien unmasks the true fear of the war itself. He also explains of what value "the things they carried" was to the soldiers. All the objects they carried signified the weight the war had on them. "The things they carried" is significant because it helps reveal the identity of all the soldiers. The soldiers' identity, one, which is courage, is expressed by the weight they carried. The story also details what the soldiers carried inside, such as feelings, as well as the way the soldiers carried themselves though the war. Most of the objects the soldiers carried were physical, but Lieutenant Cross "humped" his love for a girl on his back. He is one of the persons O'Brien focuses on throughout the story. Lieutenant Cross was madly in love with Martha, a girl back home. Martha has never responded to Lieutenant Cross' love. This is very important to remember because Lieutenant Cross' love for Martha plays a big role in Ted's death. Lieutenant Cross spent his days, during the war, constantly daydreaming about her. O'Brien stresses Lieutenant Cross' love for Martha to help the readers r...