Where have you gone Charming Billy

The setting and the mood affect the reader's feeling toward PFC Paul Berlin by showing the instinctive nature and obedience of the soldiers. This can be seen even in the first line, "twenty-six soldiers moved slowly in the dark, single file, not talking". The soliders have been given orders by their leader and promptly obey them with precision. This is also relfected in how Paul Berlin feels about Billy Bennett. He is not out of line, and he does not leak his emotion. He does not let any of the other soldiers know how hurt he is, and he keeps it completely to himself. He just closes his eyes and imagines himself in a better place. Something that would be expected on an obedient solider.