Drummer Boy of Shiloh

          In the short story "Drummer boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, is a short story about a 14 year old boy named Joby who is a drummer boy in the civil war. In the beginning, Joby wakes up to beautiful blossoms and wonderful orchard trees surrounding him, but it was yet just another day in war. Men in Shiloh were going out to fight for their loved ones, their country. But for Joby it was just another day when he would play his drum. Throughout the story, Joby presented himself as a character who thought that controlling the drum and two drumsticks wasn't enough. Joby underestimated himself a lot, because he thought hitting a drum at a war didn't matter a bit.
        Joby never took pride in the work he did, or the effort he put into playing his drum every single day. He had very low self-esteem that he brought to playing the drum every single day. Joby felt that a drum wasn't going to protect him. Joby constantly felt as if the drum wasn't going to give him another day to live, or another breath to breath. To Joby, a drum wasn't a shield that would protect him from the gun wounds. I think, Joby doesn't realize that the role he plays in the army, is what holds the whole army together. It's all like a game of blocks, you lose one block, and everything is uneven. Or, you can pull out a block, and that can make everything fall done and be misplaced. If Joby quits his job, and stops playing his drum, then the whole army would be out of place. I think that Joby is way to caught up in believing that all the army men keep the army together, and that his drum is just another instrument that nobody enjoys hearing. Joby doesn't understand that his drum isn't just another instrument, it's really the center piece of the army, that plays a very big role as well.
     All of Joby's thoughts, and opinions change when the general of the army wants to talk to him. Joby always saw the general as a father figure, because of the way he smelled: salt- sweat, tobacco, horse and boot leathers, and the earth he walked upon. The general's knees cracked as he stepped closer, and he had many brass buttons that continuously watched Joby. Joby always took whatever the general had to say to heart, because the general was always the one to make Joby feel as if he belonged to this army. The general makes Joby feel as if he plays a huge part of their army by saying "You are the heart of the army", and "Do you know now that you're general of the army when the general's left behind?" I think Joby finally understands and sees where the general is coming from. The general could related to Joby in many ways, he was also once a drummer boy at the battle of Owl Creek, and he understands how Joby feels because he walked in his shoes once.The general went from being a drummer boy to the general of the army, so he is trying to inspire Joby and explain to him that everything is possible. I feel like Joby is slowly starting to understand that he helps hold all those soldiers fighting in the war together, and that he is the heart of the army. What I personally think the author meant by saying "you are the heart of the army" is that Joby keeps the whole army together moving steadily. Your heart keeps your entire system moving. If there was no hear then no living thing would be alive today. By the general saying that Joby is the "heart of the army" is a metaphor that stands for the fact that Joby helps the army move together, and just concentrate on the war.
           In the end of the book, Joby gains back all the self esteem that was hidden in his heart. Joby realizes that his job is as important as any job out there. I think that part that showed Joby's true colors, and him finally believing in himself and finally gaining back all his confidence is when, "Joby lied for for a moment staring, but unable to see where the man had gone. He swallowed . He wiped his eyes. He cleared his throat. He settled himself. Then, at last, very slowly and firmly he turned the drum so it faced up toward the sky. Jody went from absolutely underestimating himself and his job as the drummer boy, to becoming appreciative of the role he plays in the army, and his drum.