Student Question
What is the true depiction of Sergius's battle in Arms and the Man?
Quick answer:
The true depiction of Sergius's battle in "Arms and the Man" reveals his reckless and misguided actions, contrary to Catherine and Raina's heroic perception. While Catherine's description is not inaccurate, it omits crucial details, such as Sergius's ignorance and the lucky circumstances that led to his success. Bluntschli explains that Sergius's charge was a foolish risk, saved only by the enemy's inability to fire back, making him appear ridiculous to experienced soldiers.
At first, it might be tempting to conclude that the "real picture" differs greatly from Catherine's description of the battle. But if you read the text, you'll find that Catherine's description isn't inaccurate so much as incomplete and misleading. It omits key facts, which leaves Catherine and Raina free to credit victory to Sergius's heroic character.
In reality, Sergius acted recklessly -- committing himself to an unnecessary action that was virtually guaranteed to kill his men, and which made him look ridiculous to knowledgeable military witnesses. By sheer luck, the soldiers Sergius attacked were unable to return fire, so his charge was successful. Catherine and Raina didn't know this, and they understand little about the realities of warfare. So they regarded Sergius's act as evidence of excellent soldiering.
We can see this when we consider what Catherine says about the battle:
He defied our Russian commanders--acted without orders--led a charge...
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on his own responsibility--headed it himself--was the first man to sweep through their guns.
So far, that's consistent with the facts that Bluntschli reports later. Then Catherine adds some colorful imagery:
Can't you see it, Raina: our gallant splendid Bulgarians with their swords and eyes flashing, thundering down like an avalanche and scattering the wretched Servians and their dandified Austrian officers like chaff.
She might be right. The battle might have looked like that to a naïve observer. But an insider like Bluntschli knows there is more to the story, and that additional information makes all the difference when it comes to judging Sergius's behavior.
First, Catherine implies that Sergius's decision to lead a charge without orders is evidence of his great leadership. But as Bluntschli indicates, Sergius was acting out of ignorance and inexperience. It is suicide to lead a charge into a bunch of machine guns. So Sergius's decision was really a case of gross, pompous misjudgment. By presuming he knew more than his superiors, he led a bunch of men to almost certain death.
Second, Bluntschli reveals that Sergius and his men were spared by a freak stroke of luck. Their opponents had been sent the wrong machine gun cartridges, and they had no bayonets. So they weren't able to defend themselves, and that's why they scattered.
Finally, Catherine didn't know how Sergius appeared to men on the battlefield. The reality, says Bluntschli, is that Sergius looked ridiculous to them:
We nearly burst with laughter at him… there was Don Quixote flourishing like a drum major, thinking he'd done the cleverest thing ever known, whereas he ought to be courtmartialled for it. Of all the fools ever let loose on a field of battle, that man must be the very maddest.