Study Guide

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 3, Chapter 18

By M.T. Anderson

Part 3, Chapter 18

Another letter to Shun, dated June 12, 1775—also from Cambridge:
Goring tells Shun that he appreciates the letter she sent him (finally).
The men are still waiting for orders to fight; they hear about all sorts of action on the islands nearby, but not much more than that.
The Brits are still in Boston, waiting for who knows what reason.
Meanwhile, the company goes through a lot of drills.
Octavian has been called to work with another group of men—other N****es and Irishmen—to build ditches and fortifications.
They've built up fortifications in Roxbury, all while keeping the Brits in sight.
The Brits, for some reason, are entrenched in the middle of the neck of Boston, which doesn't seem to be a good thing for them, for as Goring points out a city can't thrive when its neck is slit.
Goring sees Octavian occasionally during the day, and sometimes in the evenings Shem or Goring will steal Octavian away.
Goring really likes Octavian's company, probably because Octavian's the only one who will sit and listen to Goring sermonize.
They trade stories with each other too—Octavian tells him of Roman times, while he tells Octavian stories about his village, the cooperage, and the mill.
Octavian's a changed man now because he has a purpose.
Others may have their reasons for being—whether it's talking (like Goring) or their children or their spouses—but Octavian doesn't desire anything.
He goes from total sadness and joylessness to anger.
And it's this new anger that keeps Octavian digging those ditches, chopping those trees, and building those fortifications—he does all of this for freedom.
That's how they all spend their days.
Meanwhile, the city just sits there like a spider, without change.
That's the life of a soldier.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 3, Chapter 18 Study Group

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The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 3, Chapter 18

By M.T. Anderson

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