The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

           In the passage, "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" by Ray Bradbury, I think there are various things preventing the protagonist, Joby, from reaching his, and the story's, resolution. Although his resolution is not exactly a perfect one, it is one that he must reach nonetheless. He must make it to a point where he is done being terrified or even bitter about the war to come. He must reach a point where he truly believes in himself, and can join in with the other soldier's "romantic dreams of battles yet unfought". 
          What I believe he has to overcome to get there is his sense of reality. He is so stuck in the real world, the world where he doesn't have a weapon and is younger than most of the other soldiers, that there is no way for him to see a possibly happy turn of events. Of course, the likelihood of a happy ending is not very good, but in order for there to be any possibility at all, he must believe that there is one.
          Another thing holding Joby back is his feeling of complete and utter isolation. As I stated before, because he is the drummer boy, he does not have a weapon, unlike the rest of the army. It is also suggested by the general that his reason for joining the army was to get away from home. This may be another thing making him feel alone, considering he never wanted to be at war in the first place. Sitting there pitying himself, he hasn't even considered that many of the soldiers may be feeling exactly as he is. It is always hard to grasp that other people can feel just how you do, and you are truly not alone. Joby just has to realize that they are all in the same situation, and that he should do whatever he can to help them get through this together.