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What Does Martha Symbolize In The Things They Carried

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In Tim Obrien’s short story “The Things They Carried” Martha is a very important character. There are many symbolic things in this story but the most important is what Martha symbolizes. In this paper I will explain the reason why Obrien included a woman in this war story, the significance of Martha, and the connection between love and war. The reason why Obrien inserts women in in this war story is because of their meaning to the soldiers. Many of the soldiers had a significant other like Henry and Cross. These women were what kept them sane. For example, Henry Dobbins would wear his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck. Even after they had separated he would still wear them. The reason he does this is because of a “illusion of protection” (397). So, even though she has lost love for him, those pantyhose still symbolized love he once had. This makes him feel loved and protected hence “illusion of protection”. Another example is that Jimmy Cross had received a good luck charm from Martha and it was just a pebble, but he would always have it on him (396). This shows that these women are what keep these men together and by having a “piece of them” it keeps them safe. From all the hate within the war, the ladies “Love” is what kept these soldiers from falling apart. …show more content…
War is strongly influenced by hate and Love is the complete opposite. These soldiers need Love to stay sane, even if this “Love” is imaginary. For instance, Lieutenant Cross loved Martha but he knew that she did not feel the same way towards him. As the narrator tells the readers in the beginning that “Lieutenant cross carried two photographs of Martha the first was a Kodachrome snapshot signed “Love” though he knew better” (394). This shows that even though Cross knows Martha does not love him he still pretends as if she does because he needs love to survive. Martha symbolizes Cross' dreams and

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