Tribulation of Women in War

¶ … Tribulation of Women in War

In this analysis, we present the roles, life and tribulation of women as revealed in Benjamin Harris' Recollection as revealed by the life of a soldier (Harris) in the British Army during the Napoleonic war.

Sexual harassment against women

According to Benjamin Harris' account of what happened during the Napoleonic war, young women were often harassed sexually by the soldiers. This is evident where the Harris says "…on seeing several of the men commence pulling the young ladies about, kissing them, and proceeding to other acts of rudeness…and report the first man I saw ill use the ladies, I at length succeeded in extricating them from their persecutors… "(Harris 36). These phrases clearly indicate that some of the soldiers were using the women for their own desires against the will of the women. This means that cases of sexual harassment against females by the army men was rampant but controlled during the Napoleonic war. Harris' acts however revealed that some of the soldiers were well behaved and had some sort of dignity for women. He stood for the rights of the five young women who were being sexually harassed by the drunken soldiers.

Determination, bravery, love and chastity among women

Harris account of how a woman who had lost his husband in battle, Mrs. Cochan was determined to be taken to the alleged spot where her husband fell in order for her to confirm if he is actually dead goes along way to tell us of the nature of determination that women had during the Napoleonic war. The love that the women had for their husbands transcends death. This is indicated when Harris noted that "She now soon discovered that all her hopes were in vain; she embraced a stiffened corpse…" p.40)the woman prayed over her dead husband's body and then soon felt comforted. The suffering that widowed women went through is indicated in the way their suffering and distress is described. The women then joined the company to which her fallen husband belonged and went to war with the men. She matched and even took equal fortune with the soldiers. This shows how brave the women were during the Napoleonic war. Mrs. Cochan had a fond relationship with Harris but declined his proposal for marriage citing the fear for marrying another soldier due to the shocked that she received. This is some sort of chastity.