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The Killer Angels is a well-known book that is obligatory for studying in American schools because it explores one of the most significant events in the history of the United States. The novel by Michael Shaara published in 1974 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction a year later (Gale, 2016). The narrator reconstructs and describes the course of the Battle of Gettysburg that took place during the American Civil War (Gale, 2016). At the same time, some critics state that it would have been better if Shaara used more imagination. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the plot of the above book as well as to discuss some of its aspects.
The Killer Angels are about the three-day battle, the strategies, decisions, mistakes, and heroism that turned the course of the Civil War against the South. The book opens with Robert E. Lees coming with the army into Pennsylvania at the end of June of 1863 (Gale, 2016). He plans to stop the war by threatening Washington and subsequently, defeating the Union army. A spy named Harrison gives General James Longstreet who is a combat strategy adviser to Lee the information about the forthcoming Union troops (Gale, 2016). It is impossible to receive other data because the generals competent person cannot get in touch with him. Thus, General Lee trusts Harrison and decides to have a battle with the enemy.
The Confederate infantry meets the Union troops, namely, Buffords cavalry, at Gettysburgs broad injunction. This happens on July 1, 1863; at first, Lees army is pushed back and the representatives of the Union seize a high ground (Gale, 2016). General John Reynolds comes to help Bufford with his troops. However, later, Confederates kill Reynolds and attack the Union army; they regard these events as another victory of Lee and start celebrating it. When the night falls, the Union troops strengthen their positions.
Despite the cheerful mood of soldiers and generals, Longstreet has a bad feeling. On July 2, he attempts to convince Lee to march away to later resume the battle under more flavoring conditions (Gale, 2016). Nevertheless, the Confederates carry out a flanking attack; through the heroic actions of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, the Union troops managed to repulse it. The next day, Lee orders his army to attack the Union once again because he does not believe in the strength of the enemy. Longstreet does not agree with this decision for the general is going to attack the center of the Union army that is well-entrenched. If Lee does not change his mind, soldiers under Longstreets command will have to march under cannon fire (Gale, 2016). The attack takes place and is predictably unsuccessful; Lee is shocked and eventually sees his mistakes; the general orders his army to retreat.
To dramatize the events, Shaara focuses on a few main characters and demonstrates their emotions and feelings. There is a conflict between Longstreet who sees the real order of things and Lee, with the latter being too presumptuous to admit his failures before the last attack and the defeat (Gale, 2016). Previous victories have made General Lee believe that he can win any battle with the Union troops. He is blinded by the glory and does not listen to the combat strategy advisers arguments. Another important character of the novel is Chamberlain who is shown as a brilliant Union soldier who employs original methods and saves his beleaguered army (Gale, 2016). At the end of the book, the man understands that the Confederates will lose the war.
In conclusion, it is important to press the point that Michael Shaara does not only reconstruct the Battle of Gettysburg but also demonstrates what consequences vanity can have. From the name of the novel, it becomes evident that the narrator is against the cruelty that according to Chamberlains father is present in mens nature. Thus, from The Killer Angels, readers can learn significant lessons.
Reference
Gale, C. L. (2016). A study guide for Michael Shaaras The Killer Angels . Gale, Cengage Learning.
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