Blog Post Number Four - 'The Drummer Boy of Shiloh' by Ray Bradbury

"He smelled as all fathers should smell, of salt-sweat, tobacco, horse and boot leather, and the earth he walked upon."

In the short story 'The Drummer Boy of Shiloh' by Ray Bradbury, I think that the General is a good father figure because he convinces Joby that he plays an important part in the war. Before the General came, Joby would cry and hide where he couldn't get caught and wouldn't be found. Joby just wanted to get out of there and go home. But he couldn't. Because he had a role to play in the war. Because Joby IS, The Drummer Boy.

One conflict that Joby faces is that he has no weapons and he cannot protect himself. In the beginning of the book, Joby is very timid. For example, when a peach pit fell from the tree and landed on his drum, Joby woke startled from sleep and afraid of what might happen next. But when he realized that nobody and nothing was there, he tried to fall back asleep. But he couldn't. So he just started counting. Until he heard footsteps and whispering in the distance. The noises came from the passing soldiers. Joby couldn't exactly make out what they were saying, so he made up his own dialogue from their conversation instead,

"Me, I'm the one of all the rest who won't die. I'll get through it. I'll go home. The band will play. And I'll be there to hear it."
 

I thought that it was good for Joby and the soldiers to feel confident for themselves. Because they are in a war, and they might not survive it.

Another conflict that Joby faces is when the General finds Joby and starts talking to him. And making Joby start to think about his role in the war. Before Joby thought that he meant absolutely nothing to the war. And now the General is starting to persuade Joby into thinking that he is just as important as everyone else in this war.

"You, boy," said the general quietly. "You are the heart of the army."
 

 I thought that this was a very important quote in the story because it really shows how the General is a good father figure to Joby. By the General telling Joby how important he is, Joby sits p a little straighter and is much less tense than he was earlier in the story. I thought it was good for Joby to finally realize what he means to the war because he felt so unimportant that he shouldn't even be there. But now, he is starting to feel as proud as the soldiers were when they were recruited to the war. I couldn't believe that such simple words from the General could be so strong and symbolic to Joby. But I think that what the General said to Joby meant a lot to him because Joby is just a kid. And he doesn't know what to do, or how to fight for himself in this bloody war.



 

Another conflict that Joby faces is when the General leaves, and lets Joby think about his strong, symbolic words of hope, and wisdom. But as the General leaves, Joby knows what he must do. He knows how to play his part in the war now. And it's all thanks to the General. And his fatherly figure. I think that at that time, Joby thought of the General as his own father. Because when the General first met Joby, he put his hand on Joby's chest and told him that he was one of the good guys. And to not be afraid of him.

 

"He could only be, and was, the general. "What's your name, boy?" he asked.
"Joby, sir," whispered the boy, starting to sit up.
"All right, Joby,don't stir." A hand pressed his chest gently, and the boy relaxed..."

I thought that was an important part of the story, when the General and Joby first met. Because it shows what manners Joby has for the General. And how Joby first reacted to the General. It also shows how the General first reacted to Joby. But it's after the General speaks to Joby and leaves him is very symbolic,

 

"Joby lay therefor a moment staring, but unable to see where the man had gone. He swallowed. He wiped his eyes. He cleared his throat. He settled himself. Then, at last, very slowly and firmly he turned the drum so it faced up toward the sky."
 

I thought that was when Joby fully changed what he thought of himself in the war. Because in the beginning of the book, he was ashamed of being the drummer boy, and he would hide behind his drum for protection. But now, he is as proud as can be to be the drummer boy, and he sets it, so that it faces up toward the sky, with pride in his job.

 

In Conclusion, in the book 'The Drummer Boy' by Ray Bradbury, the General is a good father figure because he convinces Joby that he plays an important part in the war. But in the beginning of the story, before Joby met the General, Joby would hide from everything and everyone - anything to protect himself. Because he has no protection. All he has is his "drum and two sticks to beat it." But when the General finds Joby in the middle of the story, he makes Joby think about his job and the role that he plays in the war. And at the end of the story, Joby has finally made up his mind on what he wants to do. Joby is "the heart of the army." He is, The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.