Lessons of War in the Novel "Killer Angels"
Lessons of War in the Novel "Killer Angels"
Michael Shaara’s “Killer Angels” is a novel about the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place during the Civil War. In the novel, Shaara divides each chapter by general, in which the reader can see the general’s viewpoints on the war. It also gives the reader an idea of what emotions they are feeling towards their men and other generals and also what are their strategies on succeeding in defeating the enemy. I enjoyed reading “Killer Angels”. Shaara’s format of writing his book was interesting. Reading this novel, I could actually picture what was going on during the battles. The book is an entertaining way of learning about such an important event in American History.
One thing that I enjoyed most about the novel was Shaara’s way of using symbolism to describe the different scenes in the novel. I feel that music plays a big role in this book. It gave the army an adventurous feeling such as the song “Bonny Blue Flag”. Other songs played by the bands are reminders of happier times, past friendships, and splits between friends and family during the war. General Armistead of the Confederacy often mentions one lyric that came from the song “Kathleen Mavourneen” which was “It may be for years, and it may be for ever”. The lyric symbolizes his situation. It makes him think about the death of his wife who he will never see again, and about his friend General Hancock, which it may be years before he ever sees him again.
Another point of symbolism was the rain at the end of the novel. After Chamberlain finishes talking with his brother Tom, he looks up into the rainy, dark sky. A storm had come flooded with lightning and hard rain. The rain is a symbol of life and rebirth. As the valleys floods, it washed away the blood and the evidence of death during the long battle. It cleansed the earth giving way to a new beginning.
“Killer Angels” describes the struggle of Man vs. Man. The Union was fighting for the independence of slavery, while the Confederacy was fighting for the disunity of the north. The Union army was very different than the Confederate army. The Union army had soldiers from different religions,...