Is loyalty all about compromise

Throughout all of the readings this semester we have discussed motifs, themes, and characters. Not only is the topic of home resembled in these pieces but both Marilynn Robinson’s novel Home and Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem Charge of a Light Brigade develops a theme of loyalty. Home’s theme of loyalty is to family and loved ones while comparably Charge of a Light Brigade shows the loyalty of soldiers fighting for their home country. The common theme of loyalty is prevalent throughout both pieces in varying descriptions of how sacrifice is made to those who someone is loyal to.

Robinson’s Home depicts a family in small town Iowa that is going through various hardships within their family. The father is sick and the son Jack has not been home in 20 years. In the beginning of the novel Home a reader would question if Jack would ever come home and be loyal to his family. But he did not fail to return to his father’s home. Glory and her father were walking on eggshells once jack returned because of the extent of time jack was away and they did not want him to leave again, but when Jack spoke these words “You never bother me, Glory. It's remarkable how much you don't bother me. Almost unprecedented,” (Robinson 113). This shows Jacks respect and loyalty to his sister. She had felt as if Jack did not care about her like she did him. But this made her realize the feelings were mutual and her brother really enjoyed her company. The novel develops Jack’s loyalty to his father and his sister Glory. Though Jack had been gone for some 20 years, this may make a reader question his loyalty to the family but he proves himself to be anything but disloyal though the end of the novel and proves why he was absent for that duration.

The father was getting old and had been under the watch of a caregiver, but Glory gave up her passion, she stopped teaching to take care of her father. Putting her family first always she sacrificed her own personal life and career for her family and father. “Every day she swept and straightened- light work, since the house was virtually uninhabited. She did what little her father required to make him comfortable” (Robinson 14). Her father always knew Glory was someone who would never betray him but he wondered if Jack would really come back but never gave up after all these years. Both his children showed that at the end of the day family is what matters and regardless of ups and downs they would be a family unit no matter what. These characters endured all the good and bad that came with family. “It is in family that we most often feel the grace of God, His faithfulness. Yes,” (Robinson 183). This family was very religious, considering the father was the reverend of the church. They stuck together through thick and thin.

Tennyson’s poem on the other hand is referring to war, a completely different topic than Home. Charge of a Light Brigade is defining loyalty to the home country of Britain throughout the whole poem. These solders fend for their country with pride and never let their heads down. “Boldly they rode and well/ into the jaws of Death,” (Tennyson). Their loyalty to their home country was shown here because it seems that their loss was not hard to assume based on the size of the Russian army compared their own but they showed support and alliance to Britain regardless of defeat. These men rode though cannons and gunshots based strictly on what their commandeered told them because they were devoted. These military men showed no disloyalty. Not only does this help to define the Britain’s loyalty but also it shows that they will sacrifice their life for the love of their country. Martin Luther, a German theologist, once said, “Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the solider is proved” not only did Britain’s soldiers prove their loyalty they sacrificed their life for the country where loyalty was held.

According to the history channel, the Crimean War claimed at least 750,000 lives, The British army was the underdog and very outnumbered but the fought for their country to the death and did it with pride (Greenspan). “Came through’ the jaws of Death/ Back from the mouth of Hell/ All that was left of them,” (Tennyson). Though these soldiers saw the weapons and the competition they charged though it all. These men’s devotion to their country was beyond honorable. They committed to Britain and followed through come hell or high water, or even death.

Both Home and Charge of the Light Brigade are novels that continuality reiterates loyalty throughout the story line. The two authors, Tennyson and Robinson prove their underlining theme of loyalty are provided different context but come around to have the same meaning. Through loyalty there are many sacrifices made. Loyalty is very is factor in relationship and life. These two texts help provide examples and prove what real loyalty is and how it ties in with sacrificing for what you love.

Works Cited

Greenspan, Jesse. "The Charge of the Light Brigade, 160 Years Ago." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.

Luther, Martin. "Quotable Quote." Good Reads. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.

Robinson, Marilynne. Home. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Print.

Tennyson, Alfred Lord. "Charge of the Light Brigade." Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter 11th Edition ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 836. Print. University of Iowa Edition.

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