Reading Response on "The Dummer Boy of Shiloh"

Reading response: The Drummer Boy of Shiloh:

           

        

In the sort story “The Drummer boy of Shiloh,” written by Ray Bradbury, the protagonist Joby loses confidence through out the story. Joby is afraid of dying n the war. The quote that Joby says in the passage shows doubt and lack if confidence, “I got only one drum, two sticks to beat and no shield.”  This shows that Joby is comparing him self to the soldiers. He feels that he is not important to this war, the drummer boy is very important; they keep the beat of the soldiers.

         In the beginning of the story Joby sits under a tree because hes too scared, this shows how he is lacking confidence. While he expects no one to come looking for him, the general approaches him. When the general says, “ you want to cry some more, go on ahead. I did the same thing last night.” Joby is shocked he would not expect the general to cry as much as he did.

        

         Now Joby is feeling much better because the general cheered him up and mad him feel important and made him feel like the drummer boy of Shiloh. Joby felt so much better when the general said to him; “ You my boy are the heart of the army,” that meant so much to him because he actually felt like he was important. In the end when he repeated the title “Me, I’m the drummer boy of Shiloh” this showed how much more confident he was now, just by having one conversation with the general.

          Overall Joby did change in the passage because the general was making him feel so much better about him self which boosted up his confidence level. The general also mad him feel better about him self because he could relate to Joby, so he knew how he was feeling. Joby and the general both had problems and fears and by talking to each other they both overcame the fear together.