Thursday, November 20, 2008

Chapter 7 (RBoC)

Once the battle is ended for real, Henry thinks the soldiers who didn't flee have betrayed him and are stupid because they didn't try to save themselves, therefore saving the army. He thinks because he is smarter and less ignorant, him running away was what was best for the army. But since they held the line and won, which was supposed to be impossible, they all betrayed him.
So he started to feel sorry for himself, and walked deeper into the forest, because no one else would be able to understand him and his deep mind. He found peace deep in the woods where he couldn't hear the "roar of death" and picked up a pine cone and threw it at a squirrel. After it scurried up a tree he was satisfied, for nature had just showed him the natural thing to do. When you sense danger, run away... don't stand at it willing to give your life.
Henry walks deeper into the woods, and finds a dead Union soldier covered in ants. The young soldier is in awe of it, and goes closer, even though he screams lightly. He stares into the dead man's eyes, and then turns and runs away. After running a bit, he stops and listens, because he thinks it might shriek after him and attack.

[Finds the dead soldier]

Themes-
*Courage~ For people like Henry, courage comes in bursts, along with intelligence. He's being stupid thinking that everyone is wrong and he's right. He isn't showing courage.

Symbols-
*The Dead Soldier~ This sort of symbolizes what Henry could be if he runs away, I think.

Question- If he returns, is Henry going to get yelled at/beaten up/shunned/maybe killed?

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