Drummer boy of Shiloh

I just finished reading "The Drummer boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury. This story is mainly about a 14 year old boy named Joby who is the drummer boy for the army. He ran away from home and the only thing he has is his drum. When he is alone at night the general comes to talk to him about the battle that lays ahead. At first Joby is afraid, but under the general's influence Joby learns to be stronger.

 In this story there are a lot of ideas about manhood. What does it even mean to be a man? Joby is what only 14 years old and he has already run away from home to become a drummer boy. When the general comes up to talk to him he asks Joby "Do you shave yet boy?" The fact that the general even has to ask this is just proving that Joby is a boy.
 
I think that being confidant definitely has something to do with growing up and being big and strong.  In the beginning of the story Joby feels lost, alone, and scared. It even says in the story "Joby felt his family move farther off into the dark." This quote is saying he is just a boy small and afraid, the only thing he has is that drum. He actually feels his family moving farther away. I wonder if his family even knows where he is. In life I think that being a child, or a boy is also being vulnerable and childlike. When you're a child you are allowed to be afraid, but when you become a "man" there is more pressure to become big, strong, confidant, and ready to leave you family behind. 

When the general comes to talk to Joby at first the general says to him "Are you ready for the battle tomorrow?" Joby says "I think." By saying "I think" gives the reader the idea he's not sure, he's still scared, he's still a boy not a man. 

Toward the end of the story when the general has talked to Joby about how imp0rtant he is and how much this army needs him and how he (Joby) is the heart of the army, it changes him. Then the general says again "Are you ready for the battle tomorrow?" Joby then says "Yes sir!" Now Joby is stronger and more confidant in himself. He was able to realize that he is important. He was also able to realize he too can be a man just like the rest of them. 

In the world I think there is a lot of talk about when a boy becomes a man. When does Joby become a man? Does he become a man at all? I think because this story took place in the 1800's expectations of when children grew up were much sooner then they are now. Joby is only 14 years old, but that wasn't considered that young back then. For boys out there would you leave everything at this age or a little older to join the army, not matter if it was to be a drummer boy or actually fight? Would you leave home, love, shelter, and kindness? I know I wouldn't.  What even pushes people to join the army? The love of their country? Are they forced into it? Do they really believe in the cause? I mean I do love my country,  but on the other hand I don't think I would be able to risk my life. It may sound selfish and I am so grateful for people that do it but I don't think I could. 

Joby becomes a man at heart by the end. He realizes that he too just like all the other soldiers are important. For him to realize this it took the general to help him. Sometimes in life it does take another person to help or influence you in order to see something you didn't see before. 

In the beginning and end of the book it also mentions peach blossoms falling from the trees. I think this also symbolizes manhood in the sense that peach blossoms are only blossoms. They are soft, childlike, and not yet a peach -or in this case a man. When the peach blossoms fall in the beginning of the story it shows how Joby himself isn't a man yet. When they fall again at the end, in my mind it shows how he has changed and learned more about what it means to be a man. 

The peach blossoms haven't yet bloomed and maybe neither has Joby but he has learned a lot. Maybe Joby isn't physically a man yet and maybe he doesn't totally have to be, and maybe the idea of being a man doesn't have to be so stereotypical. But no matter if Joby became a man or not he definitely changed from scared to confidant, and that in my opinion relates from boy to man. 

Joby learned a lot about himself throughout the story. He learned he is important and to be confidant in himself no matter what happens in the future, good or bad.