Hope In Hard Times.

In the story, The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, by Ray Bradbury, there are many important themes.  For one, this short story shows how it is important to be brave and optimistic even in hard times, and when everything looks bad.  It shows this because in the story, the drummer boy, Joby, has to be brave even when he is in the midst of a war and could die even the next day.

In the beginning of the story, Joby is scared and hopeless.  He feels like he has no purpose and like he is going to die.  It shows this when in the story Joby says, “I got only a drum, two sticks to beat it, and no shield.”  This proves that he feels worthless and like he has no chance.  It also shows this, where Joby says, “That’s all very well for them, they can give as good as they can get,” about the soldiers around him.  He says this because he feels like they have so much greater a chance of survival than him.  He feels like they can actually do something, to not only make a difference in the war, but to simply save themselves.  Joby feels like he doesn’t even have a fleeting chance of survival, let alone help anything in the war.  

But, as the story progresses, Joby starts to feel more hopeful and like he has a purpose.  This starts to show when the general is talking to him.  The general convinces Joby that he can make a difference.  This is proved when the general says, “And for that, boy, I need you.”  This proves that Joby now has a purpose in this war, that he is actually needed and matters.  This really changes his perspective on everything.  You can tell that Joby really believes this and is optimistic when in the end, the story says, “ Then at last, very slowly and firmly, he turned the drum so it faced the sky.”   This is so meaningful thematically because the drum is a symbol for Joby's purpose.  In the beginning, he was disregarding it as useless, and turned it on its side.But him turning the drum up is a metaphor for him not only accepting his responsibility as a drummer boy, but also embracing it.

This story really proves how even when everything is looking down for you, it is important to look up.  Joby learns that everyone can make a difference and can really help even when everything seems worthless.  He learns to be optimistic and that he does have a purpose.