Question

Reread the nightmare scene near the end of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail and describe the main characters and primary events in Henry’s nightmare (pp. 92–96). Also, discuss this scene in particular, and the play in general, as a work of protest against war itself. Do you recognize parallels or discrepancies between the war depicted in this drama and any other war(s) in American history? If so, identify these similarities or differences and discuss how the message of protest in this play can be applied to those wars.

Answer 1

I think that the nightmare scene near at the end of the drama speaks to the idea that war is something that demands moral and active opposition should one feel it. Thoreau feels that the war is unjust. Yet, his nightmare is the result of inaction. The nightmare scene is one in which Thoreau's objection to war is evident. but the lack of action has enabled the machine of war to take over. It renders Thoreau's own voice as ineffective. This is why the ending of the drama has him leaving Walden in the hope of taking a more active and visible role against the nature of war. It is here where the drama speaks about the idea of how one must actively resist war, if they feel compelled to do so. If individuals authentically believe that war is wrong, they simply cannot be passive if they wish to change things. Thoreau's ending is one in which he speaks to the idea of bridging theory and reality. The theoretical principles of opposition to war must be matched to a reality in which individuals actively resist war. This becomes vitally important in both Thoreau's characterization in the drama and the statement being made about the condition of war. 

Answer 2

In the nightmare scene, Henry is near Mexico on the edge of a battlefield where riots have started, people are screaming “Learn to kill!” and “Go along!” The rioters give Bailey and Henry weapons, however neither want to join the fight or kill anyone. The response to their deny are words such as “Slacker! Coward! Deserter! Traitor!” This is similar to the reac-tions during the military draft of the war with Vietnam in the 1970s. Anyone who did not go the mainstream route of serving for their country would get called these names.