1. He gives a detached account on what happened as if he had no personal connection. He is emotionally separating himself from the chaos and horror of the war.
1.1. Kiowa also uses humor and comedy to mask the true impact that the death had on his emotional state.
2. Cross thinks that he carried the idea of Martha so heavily that he thinks he caused Ted Lavender's death.
3. Underlying misogyny? They are suppose to be symbols of liberation and patriots so I guess blushing would denote their manliness.
3.1. Relates to the belief that if a man shows any feminine traits, then he is automatically demasculinized.
4. by using tranquilizers to cope with service, Lavender used 6-7 ounces of dope and even after his death, his comrades used it
4.1. SO, he had a "calming" effect on his comrades?
5. "Like cement" (said on both page 6 and 16)
5.1. By describing him as "like cement"his humanity is removed from him - he is made merely an object
5.1.1. reflects Kiowa's inability to process, Cross is protecting him by taking all the guilt
5.1.1.1. Although Kiowa states that his death wasn't represented in a cinematic form, his description of the death was nothing less than that. This kind of empty thought running through his head may have also served as a coping mechanism.
6. weight of responsibilities that come with war
6.1. Jimmy Cross carried the responsibility of his men’s lives
7. Kiowa's tone about Lavender's death
7.1. "A pisser"
7.2. "Zapped while zipping" -
7.2.1. Pisser is also somewhat comic - he appears to also make light of the death
7.3. "Boom, down"
7.3.1. and femininity is often associated with weakness (stereotype)
7.4. “it was like watching a rock fall, or a big sandbag.”
7.4.1. By describing it as "watching a rock fall, or a big sandbag" implies that Lavender was "dead weight"
7.4.2. He believes he was spending too much time thinking about Martha
7.5. what helped him develop was the cause of Lavender's death; he blames himself for it
7.5.1. speaking to O'Brien, he testifies that he has not forgiven himself for death of Lavender, immense guilt still weighing
7.5.1.1. Rethinks about his participation in the war and decides to become the leader they need.
7.5.1.1.1. Expressive of a AGAPE style love
7.6. not surprised
8. Characterization
8.1. Greatest fear among soldiers: Blushing
8.1.1. duty=fight in war to become heroes
8.1.2. They go because they are forced to and because refusal to go = cowardice
8.1.2.1. Being a coward is considered the worst possible type of person
8.1.2.1.1. Cowardice also associated with weakness
8.1.3. matter of pride, "manliness"
8.1.3.1. Eventually burns the letters and pictures of Martha
8.1.3.1.1. Does this in anger and believes she is the cause of the distraction. Sentiments, especially those that are uncontrollable, can deter someone from reality or a greater purpose (war).
8.1.3.2. Feels the need to be an "Alpha"
8.1.4. Kiowa is emotionally distancing himself away from the horrors of war by giving lavender's death more of a scientific description.
8.2. How Cross develops?
8.2.1. realizes that only the war should matter and not distract himself from love
8.2.2. Cross is more broken down but also more real and mature in his situation.
8.2.3. Cross grows to realize the lives of his men are the most important thing
9. Symbolism and double meaning in Chapters 1 and 2
9.1. weight
9.1.1. approx. 194lbs
9.1.1.1. Example: Jimmy Cross carries compasses and maps, also responsibility to lead his men (talked about on pg5)
9.1.1.2. Love, Fear, Shyness, Embarsassment
9.1.2. emotional weight carried
9.1.3. It extends through the different stories in order to give weight to the idea that the things one carries, whether physical or emotional, enable us to navigate life’s inconsistencies.
9.1.3.1. Double meaning of names
9.1.3.1.1. Cross
9.1.3.1.2. Lavender
9.1.3.1.3. I
9.1.3.1.4. Blushing is also associated with femininity
9.1.3.2. Kiowa describes his friend's death in a cold manner even though he is sorry inside. Stating how he just fell motionless shows how cold war is and how his emotions don't really show due to war's effects on a person.
9.1.3.2.1. O'Brien wants the reader to feel deep emotion. By using weight he achieves this through the double meaning of weight. He uses the weight of objects as a tool to guide the readers mind to feel the weight of the burden of war.
9.1.4. Blushing is associated with embarrassment