Question

At the end of "Love," Cross asks O'Brien to "do me a favor. Don't mention anything about____," and O'Brien responds, "No...I won't" (29). What do you think Cross is referring to—and has O'Brien honored his request, or not? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer:

Cross is referring to Lavender's death and is asking that O'Brien never mention that he was one of those responsible for this death. O'brien honors this request, as Lavender's death is also a disturbing moment for him.

Explanation:

"Love" is one of the short stories present in the book "The Things They Carried," written by Tim O'brien, where he tells some experiences he had during the Vietnam War. These stories feature themes such as friendship, love, death and the destruction that war causes. O'Briem introduces some friends he went through during the war and how their lives have developed after having these experiences, the guilts they carry, the fears and traumas. One of those traumas is the death of Lavander, one of his friends. This death was so traumatizing that Cross, another friend, blames himself for letting it happen and feels so bad that he asks O'Brien never to bring it up. O'brien promises he won't talk about it, and in fact, fulfills that promise to the point that, in the book, Cross is interrupted before he can talk about it.