Answer: The best word to describe Carter Druse at the beginning of the story is; He was irresponsible. Carter was a private in the army and the story focuses on flashbacks. Carter had to choose to kill his father or let him live. Carter ended up choosing to kill his father.
He was irresponsible because he told his father of his plan to leave for the army at breakfast. He did not let his mother know because she was sick and only had weeks to live. Carter was from the South, but left behind his family to join the Union troops against his father's wishes. His father was heartbroken at the news. He never saw his father again until the day he killed him.
