A former sergeant demoted to private for throwing a bottle at an officer, hard-drinking Kilrain assists Chamberlain in the regiment and has been loyal to him from his first day with the Twentieth Maine. Though he admires Chamberlain’s lofty views on human equality, he does not share them. Familiar with discrimination because of his Irish roots, he hates aristocracy and believes the war is being fought to ensure that a good person cannot be enchained by the past, regardless of descent. Kilrain is shot twice during the Battle of Little Round Top, and later his heart gives out in the hospital.
Buster Kilrain Quotes in The Killer Angels
The The Killer Angels quotes below are all either spoken by Buster Kilrain or refer to Buster Kilrain. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Thursday, July 2, 1863: Chapter 2
Quotes
What I’m fighting for is the right to prove I’m a better man than many. Where have you seen this divine spark in operation, Colonel? Where have you noted this magnificent equality? … There’s many a man worse than me, and some better, but I don’t think race or country matters a damn. What matters is justice.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Buster Kilrain Quotes in The Killer Angels
The The Killer Angels quotes below are all either spoken by Buster Kilrain or refer to Buster Kilrain. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Thursday, July 2, 1863: Chapter 2
Quotes
What I’m fighting for is the right to prove I’m a better man than many. Where have you seen this divine spark in operation, Colonel? Where have you noted this magnificent equality? … There’s many a man worse than me, and some better, but I don’t think race or country matters a damn. What matters is justice.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
