You see what I see: the invisible burdens in “The things they carried” “What a heavy burden a name has become too famous. » - (Voltaire). In the short story “The Things They Carried,” Tim O'Brien expresses the metaphorical meaning of carry, which represents the physical, mental, and emotional burden that soldiers must carry during war. Even though the author explains to the reader the things the soldiers carry as a description, it also helps the readers define who this person is and what their roles are in the war. The author makes the reader understand that although soldiers carry many physical burdens, the mental and emotional burdens weigh more than the physical burdens. It powerfully tells the story of the mental and emotional burden soldiers must carry through the eyes of all the characters, but Lt. Cross puts emphasis on everything he carries. O'Brien also shows the reader that a soldier is supposed to be proud and protect their country, but soldiers fear failing to fulfill their responsibilities because of their reputation. Soldiers are not only at war against other countries, but above all against themselves. Cross is the main character of the story and the author emphasized to the reader that there is a war between personal life and war life. "He had loved Martha more than his men, and as a result, Lavender was now dead, and that was something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of the war." (The Things They Carried.42) Lieutenant Cross allowed his emotional burden to become his mental burden as well. Jimmy Cross loved a woman from his past and he kept every memory of her he could. This character also has his platoon life...... middle of paper......since you can help or conclude that you don't care. Either way, it’s a failure of leadership. – (Colin Powell). The soldiers carried both weapons and personal items they held. Weapons say they are soldiers, but things like the Kiowa Bible and the lieutenant's rock express that they were humans like everyone else with real lives, superstitions, fears, and emotions. Cross wears everything he has that reminds him of Martha, like her photos, her letters, and the rock, even though she doesn't love him back. Some of the physical objects they carry also show symbolic objects. Even though the soldiers carry some form of weapon, it reminds them that they carry the war on their shoulders. War life takes everything away from you like your personal life, mindset, actions and many more, but it's up to soldiers to wear what they like to survive..