The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, written in 1960 by Ray Bradbury, depicts the true story of a young drummer who fought in the Battle of Shiloh. This short story shows the trials of war through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old boy. The violence and heartbreak often depicted in war stories are replaced by the idea of ​​masculinity. This theme of masculinity is explored in depth throughout The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, moving away from solely clichéd masculine traits such as bravery, lack of emotion, courage, and strength. Masculinity is introduced in The Drummer Boy of Shiloh through the characterization of the two main protagonists and the use of symbolism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original EssayJoby, the fourteen-year-old protagonist of The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, is portrayed as a scared and emotional boy at the beginning of the history. new. The fear and emotion that most soldiers must feel the night before a battle is depicted through Joby. Bradbury uses youthful innocence while displaying emotion not typically seen in male characters. Joby is in no way physically considered a man, but due to his presence in a war setting, he is meant to represent stereotypical male attributes. Therefore, the theme of masculinity is not as apparent early in the story, as Joby is discovered crying by the general. Upon discovering the boy, the general declared: “Here is a soldier who cries before combat. GOOD. Get it over with. (l. 52). This complete disregard for emotions is a common trait linked to masculinity. The other soldiers, “unable to sleep because of romantic dreams of battles still unfinished” (l. 15), contrast with the emotion displayed by Joby. At the end of the story, Joby returns his drum. This is an indication of the progression of the protagonist's development throughout the story. This can be seen as an act of bravery and courage, something Joby lacks at the beginning of the story. The general in The Drummer Boy of Shiloh portrays masculinity in an original way that challenges the male stereotype. When introducing the general, Bradbury describes this character as a very masculine figure: "He smelled like all fathers should smell, salty sweat, ginger tobacco, horse and boot leather, and the earth on which he walked. » (l. 62). As the General continues his conversation with Joby, the audience learns that he sums up not only all the clichéd traits a man usually has, but also some stereotypically feminine attributes: "You feel like crying again, go ahead." I did the same thing last night. (l. 78). After the emotional support that the General has just shown him, he is still considered a very masculine figure for Joby: “And, tobacco, brass, shoe polish, salt sweat and leather, the man walked away through the grass . » (l. 156). Bradbury blurs the line between feminine and masculine, and interweaves and overlaps the two to create a mood very rare in stories of war or conflict. This unconventional portrayal of masculinity presents the audience with a different interpretation of each man who went to fight in the wars. The Drummer Boy of Shiloh takes place in a peach orchard. In Western culture, peaches can symbolize purity and youth, two traits displayed by Joby. The protagonist is awakened when a peach pit hits his drum. The panic he feels leads him to “turn the drum on its side, where its large lunar face looks at him.