The result of a conflict should never be war. In light of the American Revolution, one can see why both Collier and Collier agreed that war is futile. Devastating outcomes arise from conflict, including: strained relationships, family rifts, and divided citizens. Additionally, the brutality and death in war is overwhelming. Nonetheless, a war can be arbitrary to both sides of a battle. Collier and Collier, authors of My Brother Sam is Dead, portray the fruitlessness of war by displaying the war’s faults.
War splits families and fellow countrymen apart, as evidenced in this historical novel. The rifts between family is demonstrated through the constant fighting between the Tory, Mr. Meeker, and his rebellious Continental soldier-son, Sam. …show more content…
Mr. Meeker disagrees with Sam’s principles as he states, “Free? Free to do what…To make a mess of a thousand of lives?” (Collier and Collier 7). Consequently, Mr. Meeker questions Sam because he refuses to believe that battle will help their current situation. To him, war will only destroy everyone’s lives. Both Meekers, father and son, refuse to compromise beliefs, which causes a serious strain in their relationship. Likewise, the entire country found itself further divided. On page six, Sam explains, “There’s a lot more Tories in this part of Connecticut than in the rest of the colonies. In New Haven there aren’t so many loyalists and in some towns there aren’t any at all.” In fact, the different regions supported contrasting points of views, which lead to tension. An example of this tension is when Mr. Meeker kicked a patriot out of his tavern for insulting Tories …show more content…
Collier and Collier truly convey these injustices in the novel. For example, cattle thieves (posing as Patriots) kidnapped Mr. Meeker. Ironically, Mr. Meeker ends up dying on a British prison ship, and he support the Tory cause (Collier and Collier 127 + 164). Frankly, his death was not necessary since his presence had no effect on the outcome of the war. Sam’s death represents how the events of war do not always turn out as expected. Sam ends up being hanged and falsely accused of stealing his own cattle by the Patriots, Sam’s own side (Collier and Collier 186). To be falsely accused of theft seems to convey the fruitless nature of conflict. Due to Sam’s death Colonel Read states, “War is never fair. Who chooses which men get killed and which ones do not?” (Collier and Collier 200). Accordingly, warfare comes at a cost, and one never knows who will pay the price. Besides that, Tim was forced to grow up rather quickly because of his father’s death and his brother’s departure (Collier and Collier 164). At sixteen year of age, war separated him from his family, and he was forced to mature rapidly and take on unfamiliar responsibilities. In the story, a boy named Jerry Sanford died from sickness on a British prison ship (Collier and Collier 166). At just the tender age of ten, this boy experienced the terror of being a prisoner of war.
War splits families and fellow countrymen apart, as evidenced in this historical novel. The rifts between family is demonstrated through the constant fighting between the Tory, Mr. Meeker, and his rebellious Continental soldier-son, Sam. …show more content…
Mr. Meeker disagrees with Sam’s principles as he states, “Free? Free to do what…To make a mess of a thousand of lives?” (Collier and Collier 7). Consequently, Mr. Meeker questions Sam because he refuses to believe that battle will help their current situation. To him, war will only destroy everyone’s lives. Both Meekers, father and son, refuse to compromise beliefs, which causes a serious strain in their relationship. Likewise, the entire country found itself further divided. On page six, Sam explains, “There’s a lot more Tories in this part of Connecticut than in the rest of the colonies. In New Haven there aren’t so many loyalists and in some towns there aren’t any at all.” In fact, the different regions supported contrasting points of views, which lead to tension. An example of this tension is when Mr. Meeker kicked a patriot out of his tavern for insulting Tories …show more content…
Collier and Collier truly convey these injustices in the novel. For example, cattle thieves (posing as Patriots) kidnapped Mr. Meeker. Ironically, Mr. Meeker ends up dying on a British prison ship, and he support the Tory cause (Collier and Collier 127 + 164). Frankly, his death was not necessary since his presence had no effect on the outcome of the war. Sam’s death represents how the events of war do not always turn out as expected. Sam ends up being hanged and falsely accused of stealing his own cattle by the Patriots, Sam’s own side (Collier and Collier 186). To be falsely accused of theft seems to convey the fruitless nature of conflict. Due to Sam’s death Colonel Read states, “War is never fair. Who chooses which men get killed and which ones do not?” (Collier and Collier 200). Accordingly, warfare comes at a cost, and one never knows who will pay the price. Besides that, Tim was forced to grow up rather quickly because of his father’s death and his brother’s departure (Collier and Collier 164). At sixteen year of age, war separated him from his family, and he was forced to mature rapidly and take on unfamiliar responsibilities. In the story, a boy named Jerry Sanford died from sickness on a British prison ship (Collier and Collier 166). At just the tender age of ten, this boy experienced the terror of being a prisoner of war.