Chamberlain was an idealist, a firm believer in men, a handsome, charming, and well educated person. He became the epitome of a civilian-turned-soldier, one who has left their comfortable life for his country and turned out to be a remarkable leader. He left teaching and entered the war to fight for the freedom of men, to stop a new aristocracy from growing in the South and to preserve the Union as proven in his speech to the “deserters” early in the book. “It’s the idea that we all have value, you and me, we’re worth something more than the dirt. I never saw dirt I’d die for, but I’m not asking you to come join us and fight for dirt. What we are fighting for, in the end, is each other.” Being a Union soldier and a lower rank than Longstreet provides another perspective of the war, making the book more interesting. He also provides the
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Even though he argued against the Southern professor over whether or not blacks were subhuman, he was now wondering if it was possible that he was right. He also helps demonstrate the destruction of war. Chamberlain remembers before the start of the battle piling up bodies to shield himself at a previous battle, and also being the superior over Tom, Chamberlain soon realizes that he might have to put his brother in harm’s way to save the Union, and because he did it so naturally on the second day, he becomes disgusted with himself. “I used [Tom] to plug a hole. My brother. Did it automatically, as if he was expendable.” (Shaara 276) Using his words, he, poetically, gets one hundred fourteen out of one hundred twenty men to join his army, instead of shooting them like his superiors wanted him to do. Three more men will join later to fight for the Union on the second day. He also was the one who came over adversity when so many before him had failed. When Chamberlain ran out of
Even though he argued against the Southern professor over whether or not blacks were subhuman, he was now wondering if it was possible that he was right. He also helps demonstrate the destruction of war. Chamberlain remembers before the start of the battle piling up bodies to shield himself at a previous battle, and also being the superior over Tom, Chamberlain soon realizes that he might have to put his brother in harm’s way to save the Union, and because he did it so naturally on the second day, he becomes disgusted with himself. “I used [Tom] to plug a hole. My brother. Did it automatically, as if he was expendable.” (Shaara 276) Using his words, he, poetically, gets one hundred fourteen out of one hundred twenty men to join his army, instead of shooting them like his superiors wanted him to do. Three more men will join later to fight for the Union on the second day. He also was the one who came over adversity when so many before him had failed. When Chamberlain ran out of