Small Boy, Large Impact!

Small Boy, Large Impact!

    Prompt:  Describe your protagonist.  In what ways do you relate to him?  Be specific and explain.

    "The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh" Is about a scared and insecure drummer boy in the Civil War, who goes into battle every day with the soldiers.  He is terrified and nervous at first, since he is only armed with a drum and two sticks to beat it.  But by the end of the story, the drummer boy (Joby) recognizes his importance in the army.  It was a drastic protagonist change.

    This story brought up many questions, and almost all of them, I can relate to.  But one of them really stood out to me.  Joby was talking about how the soldiers felt that they were protected by "raw youth". I've felt that I could get away with anything because I was young, and could get a way with it.  However, raw youth is just what protects you from your own fear, not the situation.  Joby was smart enough to not feel that way.  I've been a spectator, just like Joby, and sometimes, I was just like the soldiers.
    I have definitely felt that raw youth protected me before.  Believe me, it's a great feeling, but it's only a fantasy.  Sometimes, I've had to walk away from something that was falsely protected by raw youth.  I've had many cases like that.  If there's anything that I've learned from Joby, it's that you can't let your fantasized protection take you over.  It can only protect your fear.