One thing I noticed in the story is Lieutenant Cross’s connection to his lesser. It could be said that although he did not connect emotionally with them since he was distracted by Maria, but rather that the squad symbolised Cross as a person. For example Henry Dobbins big size and masculinity symbolised Cross’s authority over the whole group, whereas Ted Lavender symbolised coping, fear and overall weakness that Cross had by using Maria.
Each man in a squad has specific roles and has to work together almost as if they are one person. That one person is the leader of the squad and in this case is Lieutenant Cross. As such, each man represents one part as Lieutenant Cross. To star we have Rat Kiley, the medic. He is the one in charge of keeping everyone alive, and yet he was helpless to save Ted. This symbolises Lieutenant Cross’s responsibility to take care of his men and failure to keep Ted Lavender alive due to lax leadership. Then going back to Henry Dobbins as a big masculine and tough person, it symbolises the rigidity a man needs in order to lead his men. Then there is Lee Strunk who carried a slingshot, a childish weapon, as a last resort weapon. This childish ‘weapon’ also called a toy symbolises the teams childish less disciplined and even reclusive nature, as well as Cross’s lack of strict rule.
The last man that is important to symbolise is Ted Lavender. He was the most scared out of all the soldiers in the squad. He tried to cope with the war through dope and tranquilisers. He was a symbol of fragility and was a catalyst into turning Cross into the man he became through his death. For what Ted symbolised to Cross was coping. For before Ted died Cross used his daydreams and mementoes from Maria to cope with the war situation. When Ted died that coping mechanism died with him and a new stricter way to cope with the war formed in Cross’s mind and it showed in his actions towards his men.
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