The Young Lions: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Young Lions: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complexities of key figures in a narrative set against the backdrop of World War II. Central to the story is Christian Diestl, a German sergeant whose rugged cynicism and survival instinct lead him to navigate the moral ambiguity of war, ultimately prioritizing his self-preservation over ideological allegiance. In contrast, Noah Ackerman represents the struggles of a Jewish American soldier who transforms from a victim of prejudice during boot camp into a resilient fighter motivated by the desire for freedom and justice. Michael Whitacre, a privileged writer, initially shirks the harsh realities of combat, but his journey leads him to confront the true cost of war after witnessing Ackerman's loyalty.
The narrative also explores the personal lives of these characters, highlighting their relationships and the impact of war on their identities. Hope Plowman, Ackerman's wife, embodies the emotional toll of separation and the sacrifices of family life, while Laura Whitacre's infidelity underscores the disconnection fostered by wartime chaos. Additionally, figures like Johnny Burnecker reveal the innocence lost in conflict, while Colonel Colclough represents the disconnect between leadership and the soldier’s experience. Through these characters, the analysis provides insights into the diverse human experiences shaped by war, blending themes of loyalty, ambition, and survival.
The Young Lions: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Irwin Shaw
First published: 1948
Genre: Novel
Locale: The Bavarian Alps, New York City, North Africa, England, France, and Germany
Plot: War
Time: 1937–1945
Christian Diestl (DEES-tehl), a former ski instructor, now a sergeant in the German army. Handsome, rugged, and cynical, he is determined to enjoy and to survive the war. Too worldly-wise to accept Nazi ideology but eager to prosper, he enthusiastically fights in Germany's early victories and tastes the spoils of war. As the tide of battle turns against the Nazis, Diestl prepares to save himself rather than die for a lost cause. Trapped in a concentration camp by a mutiny, he disguises himself as an inmate and kills a German officer to escape. As he flees toward Switzerland, he fatefully crosses the paths of two American soldiers.
Noah Ackerman, a university student drafted into the American infantry after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Born poor, physically slight, and Jewish, he is a target of suspicion and contempt. At boot camp, he must fight his own platoon mates, who want a scapegoat for their prejudice and an outlet for their aggression. He emerges a tough, hardened soldier who performs heroically and skillfully in combat. He fights not so that one nation can defeat another but so that ordinary citizens can live free of ideology. He is one of the soldiers whom Diestl ambushes and kills.
Michael Whitacre, a successful film and stage writer with easy duty in a photography battalion. Well off, and accustomed to comfortable living and cultured acquaintances, Whitacre enlists after a messy divorce but finds infantry life too demanding. Feeling only slight guilt, he uses his influence to secure a safer billet in the war effort. He is content to play soldier behind the lines in London while others fight and die. After being injured in an air raid because he is drunk, he meets Ackerman and is moved by the man's loyalty to his platoon. Following Ackerman to France, Whitacre experiences real combat for the first time. After Diestl kills Ackerman in the ambush, Whitacre stalks and slays the stormtrooper.
Hope Plowman, Ackerman's wife. She is a sensitive, sensible, and sensuous woman attracted by Ackerman's sincerity and intelligence. Over the objections of her Protestant parents, she marries him. Through her, Ackerman learns to express his passionate, poetic nature. After his unit departs for Europe, she gives birth to their child.
Laura Whitacre, a beautiful actress married to Michael Whitacre for several years. Like her husband before the war, she cares more for private pleasures than for politics. She regards the war as a rude intrusion into a comfortable life. During Whitacre's absence, she readily finds another man and files for divorce.
Gretchen Hardenburg, the wife of Diestl's commanding officer. Left alone in Berlin, she lives a frantic life of self-indulgence; her beauty, sophistication, and availability quickly attract the attention of politicians and officers stationed in the capital. When Diestl visits her to report that her husband has been seriously wounded, she takes him as a lover.
Johnny Burnecker, Ackerman's best friend in the platoon. A simple Midwestern farm boy, Burnecker yearns only to go home and till the soil, as his ancestors have done. Admiring Burnecker's sense of family and land, Ackerman treats him as his spiritual brother and fights fiercely to protect him. Burnecker's death makes Ackerman bitter and reckless.
Colonel Colclough, Ackerman's superior. An officer by virtue of his birth and a stickler for rank, he is in charge of his men, but he does not lead them. Concerned neither for patriotism nor for his men, Colclough wants only for his unit to obey orders and perform well so that his own career will be enhanced.