Lavender's death is retold throughout the story two different times..
Moreover, how does Ted Lavender die?
Ted Lavender is a young, scared soldier in the Alpha company in Tim O'Brien's book The Things They Carried. Before he is shot, he carries and takes tranquilizers to dull his fear. He dies on his way back from peeing while the rest of the platoon is focused on a tunnel that they need to destroy.
Likewise, how did Lavender's death affect Jimmy? Kiowa describes seeing Ted Lavender die and says it was like watching a rock drop to the ground. The men carry him to a chopper and then smoke his dope. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross blames himself for Ted Lavender's death because he loves Martha so much that he's been preoccupied. They burn Than Khe.
Considering this, why does Jimmy Cross feel responsible for Ted Lavender's death?
Jimmy Cross blames himself for Lavender's death because he was preoccupied with thinking of his girl back home. He feels that because of his negligence, his man died. In this motif, O'Brien is a witness to the destruction this guilt causes for Cross.
How does O'Brien describe Lemon's death?
O'Brien reveals that Kiley's friend's name was Curt Lemon and that he died while playfully tossing a smoke grenade with Rat Kiley, in the shade of some trees. Lemon stepped into the sunlight and onto a rigged mortar round. After a while they hear singing and chanting, as well as talking monkeys and trees.
Related Question Answers
Who kills themselves in the things they carried?
Norman Bowker
What is the overall message of the things they carried?
But, O'Brien once said this is not a book about war. The Things They Carried main message is the extreme power of storytelling. Stories can broaden imagination, they make memories, and replace thoughts.What does Martha symbolize in The Things They Carried?
Martha seems to represent home and normalcy, and she serves as a form of escape for Jimmy Cross as he struggles through the pressures and horrors associated with the Vietnam War. Why does Norman Bowker carry a thumb?
Sometimes they carry things according to superstition. Norman Bowker, for example, who's normally very gentle, carries a thumb that Mitchell Sanders cut off a Viet Cong (VC) corpse. He cut the thumb off, gave it to Bowker, and said that the moral was "Have gun, will travel." Henry Dobbins said he didn't get it.Why did Dave Jensen carry a rabbit's foot?
Dave Jensen's rabbit foot could symbolize multiple things. He carries a rabbit foot, which is commonly known as a good luck charm, which he may or may not genuinely believe in. He, probably, just wants that extra reassurance. That extra hope to keep his spirits up and to keep him going.What did Kiowa carry emotionally?
Kiowa is the emotional compass of Alpha Company, the one who gets everyone else to talk. Kiowa tries to comfort "O'Brien" after he kills the North Vietnamese soldier, and it is to Kiowa that Dobbins opens up about his respect for the clergy. Kiowa helps "O'Brien" by easing his transitions.What does Tim O'Brien carry in the things they carried?
The narrator, Tim O'Brien, describes the things all the men of the company carry. They are things in the most physical sense—mosquito repellent and marijuana, pocket knives and chewing gum. The things they carry depend on several factors, including the men's priorities and their constitutions.How did Linda die in The Things They Carried?
In O'Brien's last story, 'The Lives of The Dead', we learn that Linda was his first love who died of a brain tumor. Ever since Linda's death, Tim has been constructing stories about her which bring her back to life in his imagination and dreams.What happened to Jimmy Cross after the war?
Years after the end of the war, Jimmy Cross goes to visit Tim O'Brien at his home in Massachusetts. They drink coffee and smoke cigarettes, looking at photographs and reminiscing. When they come across a picture of Ted Lavender, Cross confesses that he has never forgiven himself for Lavender's death.In what sense is Ted Lavender's death his fault?
In what sense was Ted Lavender's death his own fault? He was on too much dope and couldn't pay attention to protect himself.Why does Jimmy Cross feel guilty?
Cross feels guilty about his death because as the platoon leader he is responsible for the lives of his men. He feels that in his obsession about Martha he neglected to see to Lavender's safety. As O'Brien writes about Cross: He felt shame.Why did Tim O'Brien want revenge against Bobby Jorgenson?
Q: Why did Tim O'Brien want revenge on Bobby Jorgensen? A: He wanted revenge because when Tim was shot in the butt Jorgensen didn't know how to react, because he was so new, and Tim almost died from shock and held that instance against Jorgensen.What did the soldiers carry in the things they carried?
They carry weapons: the M-60, the M-16, the M-79, M-14s, CAR-15s, Chi-Coms, RPGs, and bayonets, just to name a few. Lee Strunk carries a slingshot, Mitchell Sanders carries brass knuckles, and Kiowa carries his grandfather's hatchet. They all carry respect for the power of the things they carry.How was Ted Lavender killed?
Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried tranquilizers until he was shot in the head outside the village of Than Khe in mid-April. The death is described matter-of-factly, in passive voice. O'Brien describes the death as if it were an everyday occurrence, like the rain or a new mission.Who all died in the things they carried?
The collection is haunted by the deaths of O'Brien's comrades—Ted Lavender, Curt Lemon, and Kiowa.Who Killed Ted Lavender?
Lieutenant Jimmy Cross
How does Kiowa react to Lavender's death?
While one may see Kiowa's response as cruel or heartless, his response is a rational numbness and shock in the face of so much constant death. Kiowa wishes he could feel deep grief like his fellow soldiers, and experiences guilt over his lack of emotional response.How does O'Brien characterize a true war story?
Kiley, frustrated, spits and calls the sister a “dumb cooze.” O'Brien insists that a true war story is not moral and tells us not to believe a story that seems moral. He uses Kiley's actions as an example of the amorality of war stories. Sometimes, he says, a true war story is impossible to tell. 
