My Brother Sam Is Dead By Mr Collier

The result of any conflict should never be war. Separation and heartbreak are all devastating effects of warfare. Additionally, the brutality of war is certainly immense. Most of all, a war can be cruelly unfair to both sides of a battle. Collier and Collier, authors of My Brother Sam is Dead, essentially agree that war is fruitless.

War is always effective in tearing families and fellow countrymen apart. A repeating example of the severance in families is the constant fighting between Tory Mr. Meeker and his rebellious continental soldier-son Sam. When Sam says, “It is worth dying to be free,” Mr. Meeker becomes enraged (Collier and Collier 7). He does not agree with Sam’s principles as his opinion is, “Free? Free to do what…….To mock your king?” (Collier and Collier). Mr. Meeker is fiercely loyal to his king and believes rebellious ideals constitute “treason”.Their obvious differences in opinion strains their relationship, as neither will compromise their beliefs. Furthermore, the whole country has divided

For example, Mr. Meeker is taken by cattle thieves posing as Patriots and ironically ends up dying on a British prison ship (Collier and Collier 127 + 164). His death could have been prevented, and frankly he should not have been killed. Also, it was not really fair that he ended up dying on a British prison ship. Sam’s death is also a horrifying example of how sometimes the events of war are not always as presumed. Sam ends up being falsely accused of stealing his own cattle by the Patriots, his own side (Collier and Collier 186). The point is further established when Colonel Read states, “War is never fair. Who chooses which men get killed and which ones don’t?” (Collier and Collier 200). Warfare comes at a cost, and one never knows who will pay it. By the same token, the authors stress that as long as the fighting goes on only unfair consequences will