Brinker's father, Mr. Hadley, tells the students “you boys are the image of me and my gang in the old days" (190). Mr. Hadley envies the boys for their opportunity to be able to participate in the war, and then leaves telling them that they should feel honorable to be in the war. However, Brinker shows that he actually resents the idea of war. Initially, Brinker appears to be more mature than anyone else because of his acceptance toward the war. It is not until after his father speaks that he shows his true feelings when he states, “Left out! He [Mr. Hadley] and his crowd are responsible for it! And we're going to fight it” (193). He feels that his father's generation is causing this war, and everyone in Brinker's generation has to suffer. He accepts that he must go to war despite his rejection toward it, he probably will be killed, and that “it gives [him] a pain” (193). By accepting that he must face these issues, Brinker has shown that he has matured and is ready to face the conflicts of war, orders, and adulthood, which no other boys have
Brinker's father, Mr. Hadley, tells the students “you boys are the image of me and my gang in the old days" (190). Mr. Hadley envies the boys for their opportunity to be able to participate in the war, and then leaves telling them that they should feel honorable to be in the war. However, Brinker shows that he actually resents the idea of war. Initially, Brinker appears to be more mature than anyone else because of his acceptance toward the war. It is not until after his father speaks that he shows his true feelings when he states, “Left out! He [Mr. Hadley] and his crowd are responsible for it! And we're going to fight it” (193). He feels that his father's generation is causing this war, and everyone in Brinker's generation has to suffer. He accepts that he must go to war despite his rejection toward it, he probably will be killed, and that “it gives [him] a pain” (193). By accepting that he must face these issues, Brinker has shown that he has matured and is ready to face the conflicts of war, orders, and adulthood, which no other boys have