Analysis Of Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels

The book, The Killer Angels was written by Michael Shaara and published in 1974. This historical fiction novel took place at the Battle of Gettysburg (Gettysburg, PA), in 1863. The point of view changes each chapter between generals and other important people in the Civil War such as Chamberlain, Longstreet, Lee, etc…. The most notable theme that appeared in this novel is death. Throughout the novel there are many casualties and deaths, even within the first day. At the end of day one, Buford has already “had enough; he had his orders” (150). When Buford called for his aides, “the bucktoothed boy was dead, and the yellow-haired boy was dead, and the Sergeant was down and would never recover.”(150). Those certainly were not the only dead or injured people that resulted from day one. As the next two days came along more and more deaths occurred. On July 3rd, Armistead’s “energy failed. He felt himself flicker. But it was a long slow falling, very quiet, very peaceful, rather still, but always the motion, the darkness closing in, and so he fell out of the light and away, far away, and was gone.” (329). This was Armistead’s death after being shot in the side. So, death played an important role for all of the characters because …show more content…
An ongoing theme in any war. A huge theme in The Killer Angels and in the Battle of Gettysburg.When it came to making decisions, “The war had come as a nightmare in which you chose your nightmare side. Once chosen, you put your head down and went on to win.”(63). Either side of the war they were on, “The men came here ready to die for what they believed in, for their homes and their honor, and although it was often a terrible death it was always an honorable death, and no matter how bad the pain it was only temporary, and after death there was the reward.”(268). They were so determined for that “reward” that they sacrificed everything. Both sides, the Union and Confederacy wanted power and would not stop until they got