Questions About The Lords of Discipline

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Answered Questions (4)

Do you think attending a military school gives a reader a better understanding of this great early novel from Pat Conroy?

Larry Attending a military school might help to understand the book better. Certainly an understanding of the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolin…moreAttending a military school might help to understand the book better. Certainly an understanding of the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, which is the thinly veiled model for the novel's "Institute", adds to understanding the novel. Many of the hazing practices like a "sweat party" may seem barbaric, but, I believe are accurate if not entirely complete. If anything, Conroy doesn't go into as much detail as another book specifically about El Cid goes into..."F-Troop" is a book about 2nd Battalion, Company F...it is essentially a book of short stories about the Citadel, and more fully describes sweat parties...

(Btw...Company F is still referred to as F Troop...4th Battalion, which includes Will McLean's R Company, is referred to as the "Zoo")

Fortunately, the current administration, and most importantly the Commandant, have take great measures to eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) hazing at El Cid. Many decry the elimination of these practices...an while I understand their passion for the "Old Corps", I see the extraordinary measures as unnecessary for the making of the "Whole Man"...there are many elements at work that still cause tremendous culling of cadets...few who do not truly want to be there will remain.

For those who wonder...Hell Night still occurs as part of the Knob's (freshmen) first week on campus. Many do leave within the first week.

Few other military schools have the intensity or duration of El Cid's 4th Class system...(actually, none that I know of in the US).

There is much in the novel that is very recognizable still in the practices at El Cid today...in fact, frighteningly so. And the descriptions of Charleston and it's charms are spot on. For one with a new and growing love of both El Cid and Charleston, this has been a disturbing read. I will proceed cautiously in my relationship with both.(less)

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Would women appreciate this story?

FromBoxToBattle I think gender may be less deterministic of enjoyment of this book than if the reader has any military experience or not (or interest in the military …moreI think gender may be less deterministic of enjoyment of this book than if the reader has any military experience or not (or interest in the military and especially concepts of honor/courage). Current and former service members, people from military families, anyone who has gone through any military school or training, are going to find this book strikes a lot of familiar notes. Female cadets/service personnel will probably especially find the hyper masculine, sexual crudeness, hazing, discrimination, and prejudice all echo some real life experiences. The protagonist and main voice of the book will likely conjure many thoughts they have had themselves. Pat Conroy is a heck of an author. The words, emotions, and prose are complex but so effortless. His descriptions beguile, distract, and carry you away in the charms of the South. That makes you, dear reader, vulnerable to what comes next. He hinted there was danger, you knew things were going to go wrong, yet it still manages to catch you unaware like some charming stealth serpent striking from the overgrown garden of an aristocrats estate. If a young man's coming of age story, contemplating the meanings of honor, courage, and brotherhood, in the dangerous and beautiful Deep South are not the backdrop you want, I’d highly recommend reading something else by Pat Conroy. He is very good.(less)

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Where in the book is the scene in the general’s home?

Andy Osburn Chapter 38, pretty unforgettable chapter.

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Do you think that Pat Conroy described military training accurately?

Larry Claire's answere is right...and not...I agree with her that the book describes the Citadel (the thinly veiled real world "Institute") very well...

...b…moreClaire's answere is right...and not...I agree with her that the book describes the Citadel (the thinly veiled real world "Institute") very well...

...but that's not to say that it describes miltary training well...two rather different things...

(less)

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