Discussion Board 3/ Question 7 & 8

7. The story had a good insight, on the daily life, of a soldier. The story did refine the masculinity of a man in my interpretation. Emotionally, everything was running through their heads, and I think all of their feelings had to come out. When you could be dead one moment, but daydreaming your home the next, I am sure this had a huge affect on their mental state. The circumstances left them no choice, but to have their emotions revealed without any shame. Although the leader kept repeating, how no one would talk about themselves dying, just others. So in the back of the soldiers’ minds, any feeling that they could occupy their mind with would help them deal with the circumstances. There was an extreme pressure to be a macho solider that did not cry, and I think what he trying to say is “Soldiers have feelings too.” I know in that era they conducted drafts to send young men to war, and that could have also stated “Why not women?” Here he is daydreaming of a world that seems so far away, and Martha was just simply living her life, while he was fighting for his. I think the contrast between the two worlds has him frustrated, and at times confused as to why he is in this predicament.
8.The story supplied weight information, on each tool or weapon, which the men carried. As I continued to read, the soldiers emotional state seemed far heavier than their tools. Living in their own personal agony all of the men would bare with environment, hoping that they would dream of a better world away from war. I think the weight of the equipment is nothing to these men. Not once in the story did they convey how bad it was carrying the weight, but they did repeat information about their emotional state. I think the soldier’s feelings of regret, love, fear, and strength are far heavier than their weapons.