Lt. Jimmy Cross's last name (Cross) and his initials (J.C.) have led some readers to
associate him with Jesus Christ. This association is appropriate in some ways and ironic in
others, as I'll explain.
Jimmy Cross could be seen as a Christ figure
because he serves in a leadership role and takes on the responsibility of his men's lives, as
Christ took on the burden of the cross (his sacrifice representing the eternal lives of all
believers). When Ted Lavender is killed by a sniper, Jimmy blames himself, seeing his obsession
with Martha, a girl back home, as a distraction that diverted his attention from his men. After
Ted's death, Jimmy decides he must take even more responsibility for his men's lives onto his
own shoulders. He burns the remnants of his relationship with Martha, which could be seen as a
sacrifice. Jimmy is "determined to perform his duties firmly and without negligence . . .
He would dispose of his good-luck pebble . . . He would be careful . . . He would accept
the...
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