Reading Response on The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

          "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by is a great short story about a 14 year-old-boy, Joby, who runs away from home to join the army to fight the civil war. He is a drummer boy, and once alone is overcome with a wave of emotions relating to the war. I think that in any war it's important for soldiers to have some one to look-up to and to motivate them. I think that in the drummer boy the general is the one who influences Joby's.

       In the story, one reason Joby looks up to the general is as a father figure. One quote from the text supporting this is "You want to cry some more, go on ahead. I did the same last night" pg. 52. I think this quote is really showing how the general cares about Joby. I think that what the general is saying is really comforting because he's saying it's alright to cry. The reason I think that what he's saying is important in a war in particular. This is because a lot of soldiers feel like they have to be men and can't cry, and the general of all people saying it's okay really gives Joby confidence. Also, saying this shows that the general is trying to connect with Joby by saying that he cried too. I think that Joby really needed a father figure because he isn't with his family, and the general really provided this for him.

       I think that another way that the general helps motivate Joby, is that he helps him find his purpose in the war. An example of this from the text is "Do you know that you are the general of the army, when the general is left behind?" pg. 53. I think that this excerpt communicates how the general is showing how influential Joby can be as a drummer boy. I think that this is because the general is such an important role, and the general himself is saying that Joby is strong enough to be like him. Here again we are seeing how the general is trying to connect with Joby on a personal level. Joby can now see how important he is to the army, which really makes him more confident and not as scared of the war.

         I think in the end the general really ends up influencing Joby, so that he feels important, and proud of his role as the drummer boy. I think that if Joby feels this way he can make a bigger impact on the army. One example supporting this is "Then even though shot or torn, those wounds got in hot blood- blood he'd helped stir- would feel less pain." pg. 53. In this quote you can really see how confident Joby is with himself. I think that Joby's job in the war is really important, and it makes a big difference in his work if he feels proud and committed. I think that the change that Joby went through is really inspirational. I think that here Joby is proving that a small boy can make a big difference, and the general helped him realize this. 

      In the end I think that the general is a very important figure in Joby's life. He is the one who can turn him in to this amazing person who can affect the lives of the soldiers. The general as a father figure has the comforting affect, while he helps him realize who he is and how he can help the army. I think that in my life my dad plays this same role. I think that this is the most important connection and everyone should have it. The passage really made me cherish the connection I have with my dad, and makes me want to make it last.