Question

Why does Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feel responsible for the death of Ted Lavender?

Answer 1

Answer:

Jimmy Cross felt responsible for his death because he was the Platoon leader and was responsible for the well being and lives of his men.

Explanation:

Lavender was constantly afraid and was known to carry a lot of ammunition than what is required for his safety.

During the Platoon leader’s stop to investigate a tunnel, Lavender was shot in the head. This made the Platoon leader feel guilty about not being there to protect and guide him.

Answer 2

Answer:

They used profanity to downplay the severity of what was happening with the war.

Why did Lieutenant Jimmy Cross feel guilty about Ted Lavender's death?

He felt guilty because he was distracted and thought about Martha. He thought he could have prevented it. 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.

Hope This helps!

Explanation: