How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
On the way to Washington his spirit had soared. The regiment was fed and caressed at station after station until the youth had believed that he must be a hero. There was a lavish expenditure of bread and cold meats, coffee, and pickles and cheese. As he basked in the smiles of the girls and was patted and complimented by the old men, he had felt growing within him the strength to do mighty deeds of arms (1.34).
At the beginning of the novel, Henry bases his own sense of worth on the opinions of others.
Quote #2
Frequently over this tumult could be heard the grim jokes of the critical veterans; but the retreating men apparently were not even conscious of the presence of an audience (4.33).
"Audience" is an interesting word to note here – Henry indeed has to act out most of his internal debate in front of other men. Talk about pressure, right?
Quote #3
The youth went on. Turning at a distance he saw the tattered man wandering about helplessly in the field.
He now thought that he wished he was dead. He believed he envied those men whose bodies lay strewn over the grass of the fields and on the fallen leaves of the forest (10.31-2).
Henry envies the dead men because they no longer have shame or guilt over their actions. They are also free from scrutiny from the other soldiers, whereas Henry may be discovered as a coward.
Quote #4
These thoughts uplifted him. He felt the quiver of war desire. In his ears, he heard the ring of victory. He knew the frenzy of a rapid successful charge. The music of the trampling feet, the sharp voices, the clanking arms of the column near him made him soar on the red wings of war. For a few moments he was sublime (11.10).
The only way Henry can get himself to act is through these fantasies, these visions of himself as some sort of Homeric hero.
Quote #5
While he had been tossed by many emotions, he had not been aware of ailments. Now the beset him and made clamor. As he was at last compelled to pay attention to them, his capacity for self-hate was multiplied. In despair, he declared that he was not like those others. He now conceded it to be impossible that he should ever become a hero. He was a craven loon. Those pictures of glory were piteous things. He groaned from his heart and went staggering off (11.18).
Then again… Notice that it is Henry’s physical vulnerabilities that bring him back down to earth. He may have briefly won the battle of courage in his mind, but surviving the actual battle in front of him is an entirely different story.
Quote #6
Then, as if the heads were moved by one muscle, all the faces were turned toward him with wide, derisive grins. He seemed to hear some one make a humorous remark in a low tone. At it the others all crowed and cackled. He was a slang phrase (11.33).
Henry despises himself for running away, NOT because of his own cowardice, but because it threatens his reputation in the eyes of the other men.
Quote #7
"Well, don't we fight like the devil? Don't we do all that men can?" demanded the youth loudly (16.14).
Henry makes up for his internal insecurities by overcompensating externally. It’s kind of like trash-talking when you don’t have the skills to back it up. (Lessons learned from the basketball court, volume one.)
Quote #8
It was perhaps that they dreaded to be killed in insignificant ways after the times for proper military deaths had passed (21.3).
Henry ascribes his value set to the other soldiers: pride before safety. He imagines their reasons for hurrying as related to honor, not to self-preservation.
Quote #9
They speedily forgot many things. The past held no pictures of error and disappointment. They were very happy, and their hearts swelled with grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant (21.41).
This is Henry and Wilson’s shared reaction to the officer’s claim that they should both be major-generals. Reputation is so important to Henry that it can erase any guilt he’s felt in the past.