The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

In "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh," by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury shows that in war, the opposing sides often resemble each other more than they think they do.

In the story, each side is assumed by Joby, the drummer boy, to be lying awake, baseless, wishful thoughts of themselves emerging victorious and intact from battle. Even though there was a great possibility that any one of the soldiers could die, each one was clinging to the hope that they wouldn't be the one to perish. " 'Me, I'm the one, I'm the one of all the rest who won't die. I'll live through it. I'll go home. The band will play and I'll be there to here it,' " is what Joby assumes they are thinking. This excerpt suggests that all the soldiers are united in their blind hopes. Both armies are naive about the costs and perils of warfare—they are young and inexperienced. " 'There's your cheek fell right off the tree overhead. And the others here, not much older. Raw, raw the lot of you,' " said the general. This conveys that the armies were comprised mostly of innocent not yet matured young men.

Another similarity between the two armies is their motivation for fight: most of the initiates joined in a burst of patriotism, focused solely on defending their country and it's honor. Many ran away to fight for their home. "[The soldiers were] compounded of remote but none the less firm and fiery family devotion, flag-blown patriotism, and cocksure immortality," Joby's thoughts portray the boys and men becoming soldiers as rash confident decisions in the heat of visions involving fighting for and bringing honor too one's country. " 'But here we are, taken with spring fever and thinking its blood lust, taking are sulphur with cannons instead of with molasses as it should be,' " the general stated, making it known that he thinks the soldiers in both armies have gone to war in a too hasty rush of confidence, and should have been at home enjoying the spring, instead of running in to battle and facing what could very well be their end.

Opposing armies can be very alike in warfare. Both sides are made up of people. As people, we often share similar emotions and situations. I think that this is usually true in war. We are all human, and sometimes we disagree. I think that settling matters by warfare only creates more feelings of discord, and creates a bigger rift between groups than settling the issue nonviolently. Often times, opposing sides are made out as very different from one another, because it would be very difficult to do battle with someone you can identify with. If you were able to see yourself in them, it would make it much harder to view them as monsters you must slay. Bradbury shows that we are not always so different from the people we wish ill.

The Wanderer

In The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech, Sophie travels across the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboat dubbed The Wanderer with her three uncles (Stew, Mo, and Dock) and two cousins (Brian and Cody), to go to England to visit Bompie, her grandfather. As the story progresses, you learn that Sophie was actually adopted, even though she refuses to acknowledge the fact. At the beginning of the story, Sophie denies her true feelings and buries the unpleasant memories of her deceased parents. When her cousins question her about her birth parents, she pretended she hasn't heard and changes the subject. I think that Sophie had pushed her memories of her real parents so far back in her mind that she truly believed that Cody, Brian, her uncles, and Bompie were her relations by blood. She acted very carefree, and talked about loving the adventure of being in the ocean. Sophie said she longed to be at sea. At night, however, she dreamed of a great black wave crashing down and swallowing her. By repressing her real emotions, her secret fear of the sea grew, despite her claims that she was perfectly all right.

As they drew closer to England, storms began. One night while on deck, a wave, as great and tall as the one in her nightmares, broke over her and the entire boat. This, I think, was when Sophie finally accepted and acknowledged the memory of her parents drowning from the impact of the wave she dreamt about.  By the end of the story, she was open to herself and others about her past, and became more honest about her feelings. Sophie no longer had to hide herself from herself to be happy.

The Luxe

The Luxe, by Anna Godberson, follows the lives of young socialites in 1899 New York City. The main character, Elizabeth Holland, is a proper, rule-abiding debutant. She pays close attention to manners and etiquette and always tries to please her family. She bears little resemblance to her rebellious, carefree sister, Diana. When the Holland's vast wealth begins to quickly diminish under the strain of numerus expensive gowns and no income source, Elizabeth is being forced to except the proposal of Henry Schoonmaker, even though she is in love with Will, their chauffeur and stable hand. Godberson shows the reader throughout the book that in life it is important to follow your heart, even when it requires rejecting many of society's norms and class systems.

For instance, while everyone expects her to marry someone of her own class, she instead moves out west to California. By doing so, she is much happier, showing that often times what's best for you is what you feel is right. Earlier in the story, Elizabeth was submissive to the repressive ideals of he mother and neighbors. She was unhappy and experienced little fun or pleasure. The author exhibits that rejecting things such as class and status can lead to 

a more emotionally beneficial life.

Diana, Elizabeth's sister, had always wished to be free of New York City's constricting upperclass beliefs. while in New York, she feels trapped and confined. When she leaves for South America to explore different cultures and live more freely, she has amazing experiences.

Godberson shows that in the act of doing what you feel is best, disregarding status and wealth as ones first priority can lead to a life filled  with much more pleasurable experiences, or meeting people you truly enjoy the company of.