"Early stood beside him, dark, formal, composed." (p.137). He was a dark character, no one could really get a proper assessment of who he was and what he stood for. His nature was always calculative. He did not, however, fail to show that he thought he was better than everyone else and he should be respected. Early "stood with legs wide apart, his hands clasped behind his back, heavy in the jaw, his face black and grim." (p.137). As I was reading this description, I picture to myself a mafioso like figure, all he was missing was the toothpick and hairy chest. Early was a very snide person and like everything else about him, did not fail to show it (Early said calmly, silently, bored. p. 139). These characteristics were boldly displayed and Early did not feel any shame in showing them.
A more subtle but present characteristic was his calculating nature. He was always looking out for number one: himself. He would do anything to get the promotion. For him, promotion was not a goal, but a disease. He would go to any extent to get in a higher position that others. It was not that obvious, but everyone saw it. There were many conflicts between Longstreet and Early due to his nature. Even General Lee noticed something peculiar about Early's character (Something too cold here, something disagreeable in the silence of the eyes, the tilt of the head. p. 139). The fact that he was a general makes one wonder how he got into that position, and whom he had to crawl over to get it.
As one saw the public display shown by General Jubal Early, General George Pickett also did not practice discreetness. The difference, however, lies in presentation. General Pickett was more flamboyant and exuberant than General Early. A little background: George Pickett was a general for the South, educated at West Point but was not very bright, but was determined (He was not overwhelmingly bright, but he was a fighter. p. 58).