Cyrus Raises His Sons

Cyrus raises his sons, Adam and his half-brother Charles, with a harsh, military discipline. He drills them in the manual of arms, forces them on long marches with weighted packs, and instills in them a hatred of soldiering. Adam is obedient and retiring, while Charles is assertive and athletic. Adam eventually sees through his father's pretensions, realizing that the discipline is not for the boys' benefit but to make Cyrus feel like a great man. This realization causes Adam to retreat into a secret inner world.