Final answer:
The message concerning heroism conveyed through father-son relationships suggests a shift from romanticized ideals to recognition of the complex realities of war and the broader context of societal laws and ethics in shaping heroes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The message concerning heroism that is being conveyed through relationships between fathers and sons in literature often revolves around the process of evolving attitudes towards war, glory, and heroics embedded within familial dynamics. This can be seen in the change in language and perspective throughout a narrative, from initial idealistic words like 'warrior-fire,' 'adventure,' and 'unconquerable,' often used to instill a romantic view of warfare in the young, towards a potentially more sobering vocabulary that reflects the realities of war and the changing perceptions of what it means to be a hero. Within the Soviet context, the paternal relationships depicted between figures like Stalin and young Soviet heroes symbolize the mentoring and authoritative guidance that the 'father' provides to his 'sons,' indicating a societal structure where the younger generation is molded by the wisdom and experiences of their predecessors. Similarly, in literature, heroes are presented not as individual champions but as integral parts of a larger social and ethical fabric, contributing to the communal wellbeing through Confucian ideals of familial bonds and obligations.
In stories such as 'Chickamauga,' the transformation in the vocabulary associated with war and warriors throughout the story mirrors the young protagonist's journey from naïve glorification of war to a harrowing understanding of its true nature. As the narrative unfolds, the boy realizes that war is not just a playground for 'memorable feats of discovery and conquest' but a landscape of horror and loss. In Thomas Carlyle's 'Lecture on Heroes' and Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace,' similar themes are touched upon, where the concept of a hero evolves from being the center of historical cause to a part of larger historical patterns and societal laws that transcend individual will. The idea of heroism is thus conveyed as one that may start with romanticized notions, but ultimately becomes grounded in the collective experiences and contributions of people, often learned and shaped within the bonds of father-son relationships.