Simon the Fiddler

Denoted by the colors of the Union and Confederate jackets, the different clothing the characters wear symbolizes their social status and power within the turbulent Civil War and postwar landscape. Simon is especially aware of this and often weaponizes clothing to sell an image of himself and others. Much of the band’s money repeatedly goes towards buying new clothes, whether bullet-riddled white shirts or fancier shirts and cravats; without new clothes and tidy appearances, the men cannot find employment.

Simon’s insistence that they dress like civilians to get paid, as soldiers would not get paid for playing music, shows his awareness of social dynamics that other characters might ignore. By repeatedly describing Simon’s efforts to find suitable clothing for his purposes, Jiles emphasizes the importance of appearances in this contemporary culture. Jiles specifically emphasizes the need for men to be put together and the struggles and expenses therein. This articulates the theme of War, Violence, and the Complex Signifiers of Masculinity. As symbolized through the bullet-ridden shirts that the men buy, war has made presenting oneself well complicated, yet they must adopt the best appearance they can to earn their place in society as respectable men.