Question

How does Henry’s mother's reaction to his desire to enlist affect a reader’s understanding of this novel’s setting? Her reaction helps convey the huge importance of farmwork and the sacrifices made by those whose sons left home to join the war. Her reaction reveals that the government at the time put more value on waging war than on supporting farming families. Her reaction reveals that as a mother she cannot bear the thought of losing her only son to the injustice of war. Her reaction helps convey the popular notion that women at this time did not support the enlistment of teenage boys in war.

Answer 1

The answer was actually her reaction helps convey the huge importance of farm-work and the sacrifices made by those whose sons left home to join the war. Just took the test.

Answer 2

Her reaction reveals that as a mother she cannot bear the thought of losing her only son to the injustice of war.

Henry’s mother discouraged him from joining the army because she fears for her son’s safety. The advices she gave to him were concerning more of the life of Henry – that he should not attempt to beat the entire rebel alone and that he should do what is right. The scene showed a mother’s concern for her son and the reader as well would understand a mother’s heart.