Thoreau is basically spitting in Trumbo’s face. If the two of them were to meet, Thoreau would thoroughly scold and mock Trumbo for his character’s participation in something meaningless that they did not understand without protest. While it’s true that Trumbo is technically just bashing the war, they do agree on the issues of the imagery of a true virtuous and strong soldier. Both tear this character down to being worse than the lowliest maggot or made of clay with no real substance to call their own creation. Thoreau can just bash Trumbo either as he does flee to a lake and refuse to pay taxes. This is his complete removal of government support, however, it’s not quite the activist attitude. This, in his own mind, is the most productive way to sway a majority or ruling group affectively in a democracy. Trumbo may not necessarily disagree with him. In the novel, he does make the point to show that it’s “cowardly” and dangerous to attempt to desert or not report for action. However, he later makes the point that going just costs more than you’re willing to give and those mindless soldiers who obey the calls of “honor” just end up in shoe boxes. Thoreau would more likely tell Trumbo that he’ll be truly honorable to end up in jail for desertion.
1 comment:
I agree that Trumbo is trying to show that the war is wrong and hurtful to many people. I think it is interesting how the reader comes to understand Trumbo's opposition on war by trying to position themselves in a body that isn't able to hear and doesn't have any limbs. His raw emotion and truth of circumstances in war elicits his belief that war is wrong.
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