Chapter 24 (RBoC)

Now that the battle and the war are over, Henry and Wilson wonder what now? They head back to the river with everyone else and see the end result of everything like the wounded and the other worn out soldiers. On the way back Henry looks inside himself and notices that he has changed. He regrets running from that first battle, but he feels that he can move on and not forget it, but learn from it. He thinks in his head that he is good now. The deeds that his friends and comrades saw made him a better person. Henry does however, feel a twinge of guilt for the tattered soldier, for he left him in the field by himself when he helped Henry move Jim. Henry thinks that his comrades can read his failure on his face, but no one is paying attention to him. Everyone is going over the battle with each other. Henry realizes that he can put the tattered soldier behind him, and get over his sins from the first battle. He is a man now. The sun then shines with big puffy clouds after raining a little.



Response- The end. Henry has an ego, but he has to deal with guilt just like everyone else. He is a real person, and even though he sometimes is selfish, he matured a lot in the last half of the book.

Themes-

*Manhood~ I think Henry has finally achieved this, for he put his sins behind him and got over everything, but not without feeling guilty first. Like every other human.

Motifs-

*Youth and maturity~ Compared to the 1st chapter, not only has Henry Fleming matured greatly, but Wilson as well. Good for them!

Question- IS THE LIEUTENANT ALIVE? It isn't answered! Ahh!