Stanhope - He is unhappy and angered that Hibbert is trying to escape from the Front Line, right before the German attack. Although he pretends to be ruthless, and says that he will shoot Hibbert for deserting. It seems more likely that this is an empty threat and that he doesn't want to kill Hibbert, just frighten him into choosing what Stanhope thinks is right.
Hibbert - He is shocked that something that he thought would be so simple, going to see the doctor, is being so hard. He is outraged that Stanhope is stopping him and is reckless due to his emotional state (hitting Stanhope). He is terrified and deeply unhappy in the trenches which is revealed later on, and doesn't think he could take the big German attack.
Monday, 10 December 2012
Friday, 30 November 2012
Journey's End Quotes
It all seems rather - silly, doesn't it? - Raleigh
In Raleigh's point of view, the war seems unnecessary
The German's are really quite decent, aren't they? I mean outside the newspapers - Raleigh
Raleigh is saying that the Germans are just like them, and not like how they are portrayed in propaganda.
Don't 'Dennis' me! Stanhope's my name - Stanhope
A key line in the play where Stanhope shouts at Raleigh for relating himself to Stanhope's past.
In Raleigh's point of view, the war seems unnecessary
The German's are really quite decent, aren't they? I mean outside the newspapers - Raleigh
Raleigh is saying that the Germans are just like them, and not like how they are portrayed in propaganda.
Don't 'Dennis' me! Stanhope's my name - Stanhope
A key line in the play where Stanhope shouts at Raleigh for relating himself to Stanhope's past.
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
How does Sherriff create sympathy for Stanhope in the passage between pages 31 and 33
Between pages 31 and 33, during which Osborne and Stanhope are talking about Raleigh joining their company, Sheriff creates sympathy around Stanhope. This is achieved by what Stanhope tells Osborne (and the audience) about how he views the situation with Raleigh. For instance, when Stanhope goes on to say about how he is only brave because he is 'doped with whisky', or when he desperately says that he will censor Raleigh's letters. However one of the key reasons why we feel sympathy for Stanhope is when Sheriff writes about how Stanhope believes he has'had his share of luck'.
When Stanhope tells Osborne "it may not be much longer now. I've had my share of luck - more than my share", he is saying that he thinks he has had his luck in the war and that he will soon die in the same way his predecessors did. This, as pointed out by Osborne, is a very 'black' way of looking on things as everyone knows Stanhope is a great military commander. We sympathise with Stanhope here because he is feeling quite dark and has no confidence in his own ability.
Another example showing Stanhope's lack of confidence in his abiltiy is when he says "if i went up those steps into the front line - without being doped with whisky - I'd go mad with fright". This tells us that Stanhope, one of the most revered and respected officers in the entire batallion does not think that he is brave or noble, and instead he is keeping himself going with whisky. this emphasises his lack of belief in this scene and the audience sympathises with this.
Raleigh also creates sympathy by explaining his love for Madge, Raleigh's sister and how he regrets not telling her earlier. This is explained when he says "I just prayed to come through the war - and - and do things - and keep absolutely fit for her". At this point the audience is sympathising for Stanhope because he is doing all this, more strain than anyone else, for Raleigh's sister and we hope that he makes it through the war.
This sympathy is repeated when Stanhope goes on to talk about his fear for Raleigh to write to her about him (a fear which turns out to be unnecessary once he sees Raleigh's letter). Stanhope tells us "You know! You know he'll write and tell her I reek of whisky all day" which is in reference to the drinking which he has to do so as to gather the courage to go into battle. This is the moment where we feel the most sympathy towards Stanhope because he is paranoid that Madge will be told of his drinking, which he has a justifiable reason for anyway. So if this was to happen it would be totally unjust on Stanhope.
One of the main reasons why Stanhope is so bleak in this part, and why we feel sympathy for him, is because he is upset about Raleigh joining his company (he tells us "If Raleigh had gone to one of those other one thousand eight hundred companies"). However, Stanhope is not angered because he doesn't like Raleigh, but because he loves him too much to lose him. Stanhope has seen and endured so much during the years he has been at war, and is at breaking point. So, he is deeply upset that Raleigh, a boy he had cared for has come to his company where he could die and his death would be forever on Stanhope's conscience This would not only be too much for Stanhope but it would also possibly ruin the relationship between him and Raleigh's sister.
Lastly, we are told by Stanhope about the reason why he took to whisky (he says "I knew I'd go mad if I didn't break the strain. I couldn't bear being fully conscious all the time"). The audience sympathises with him when he says this because he has revealed why he drinks so much. It is all too much for him. This is made even worse by the fact that he is mocked for this, even though he has a very sombre reason for it.
Between the pages of 31 and 33 the audience has become a lot more sympathetic towards Stanhope because of the reasons such as his misconception among the men, and his bleak outlook after his time in the trenches. All of theses techniques by Sheriff create a very effective scene here.
When Stanhope tells Osborne "it may not be much longer now. I've had my share of luck - more than my share", he is saying that he thinks he has had his luck in the war and that he will soon die in the same way his predecessors did. This, as pointed out by Osborne, is a very 'black' way of looking on things as everyone knows Stanhope is a great military commander. We sympathise with Stanhope here because he is feeling quite dark and has no confidence in his own ability.
Another example showing Stanhope's lack of confidence in his abiltiy is when he says "if i went up those steps into the front line - without being doped with whisky - I'd go mad with fright". This tells us that Stanhope, one of the most revered and respected officers in the entire batallion does not think that he is brave or noble, and instead he is keeping himself going with whisky. this emphasises his lack of belief in this scene and the audience sympathises with this.
Raleigh also creates sympathy by explaining his love for Madge, Raleigh's sister and how he regrets not telling her earlier. This is explained when he says "I just prayed to come through the war - and - and do things - and keep absolutely fit for her". At this point the audience is sympathising for Stanhope because he is doing all this, more strain than anyone else, for Raleigh's sister and we hope that he makes it through the war.
This sympathy is repeated when Stanhope goes on to talk about his fear for Raleigh to write to her about him (a fear which turns out to be unnecessary once he sees Raleigh's letter). Stanhope tells us "You know! You know he'll write and tell her I reek of whisky all day" which is in reference to the drinking which he has to do so as to gather the courage to go into battle. This is the moment where we feel the most sympathy towards Stanhope because he is paranoid that Madge will be told of his drinking, which he has a justifiable reason for anyway. So if this was to happen it would be totally unjust on Stanhope.
One of the main reasons why Stanhope is so bleak in this part, and why we feel sympathy for him, is because he is upset about Raleigh joining his company (he tells us "If Raleigh had gone to one of those other one thousand eight hundred companies"). However, Stanhope is not angered because he doesn't like Raleigh, but because he loves him too much to lose him. Stanhope has seen and endured so much during the years he has been at war, and is at breaking point. So, he is deeply upset that Raleigh, a boy he had cared for has come to his company where he could die and his death would be forever on Stanhope's conscience This would not only be too much for Stanhope but it would also possibly ruin the relationship between him and Raleigh's sister.
Lastly, we are told by Stanhope about the reason why he took to whisky (he says "I knew I'd go mad if I didn't break the strain. I couldn't bear being fully conscious all the time"). The audience sympathises with him when he says this because he has revealed why he drinks so much. It is all too much for him. This is made even worse by the fact that he is mocked for this, even though he has a very sombre reason for it.
Between the pages of 31 and 33 the audience has become a lot more sympathetic towards Stanhope because of the reasons such as his misconception among the men, and his bleak outlook after his time in the trenches. All of theses techniques by Sheriff create a very effective scene here.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
How does Sheriff create sympathy for Stanhope notes
Between pages 31 and 33 (where Stanhope is describing his girlfriend, Raleigh's sister, to Osborne), Sheriff tries to make the audience to sympathise with Stanhope. This is shown in the quotes below:
Stanhope: She doesn't know. She thinks I'm a wonderful chap - commanding a company. She doesn't know that if I went up those steps into the front line - without being doped with whisky - I'd go mad with fright.
Stanhope, a great military commander, is telling us that he in fact is not brave or noble, and that whisky is the only thing that allows him to go into battle. We know that Stanhope is one of the best officers there is, so the fact that he is admitting that he is not actually brave, makes the audience sympathise with him.
He also mentions that he feels guilty about Raleigh's sister thinking that he is great, as he himself doesn't think so. Again, his lack of self-belief inspires pity in him.
Stanhope: It may not be much longer now. I've had my share of luck - more than my share.
Here Stanhope is saying that he has had good fortune before, and that is likely to run out soon. This is implying that he thinks he will die soon on the trenches and is reinforced by 'it may not be much longer now'. It is almost as though he doesn't care about dieing any more and this makes the audience sympathise with Stanhope.
Stanhope: I just prayed to come through the war - and - and do things - and keep absolutely fit for her.
Stanhope is telling us about how he regrets things with Raleigh's sister, and we sympathise with him because we understand that he is desperate to go back to her.
Stanhope: I knew I'd go mad if I didn't break the strain. I couldn't bear being fully conscious all the time.
We can tell that Stanhope finds life in the trenches very tough and we sympathise with him not only for his tough time there, but also for the fact that people mock him for his drinking, when there is a very sombre reason for it.
Stanhope: You know! You know he'll write and tell her I reek of of whisky all day.
We can tell that Stanhope is very worried and upset by the fact that Raleigh's sister, Madge, might be told that he is no longer the man he once was.
Stanhope: Censorship! I censor his letter - cross out all he says about me.
Here we sympathise for Stanhope because of the desperate measure he feels that he has to take.
Stanhope: She doesn't know. She thinks I'm a wonderful chap - commanding a company. She doesn't know that if I went up those steps into the front line - without being doped with whisky - I'd go mad with fright.
Stanhope, a great military commander, is telling us that he in fact is not brave or noble, and that whisky is the only thing that allows him to go into battle. We know that Stanhope is one of the best officers there is, so the fact that he is admitting that he is not actually brave, makes the audience sympathise with him.
He also mentions that he feels guilty about Raleigh's sister thinking that he is great, as he himself doesn't think so. Again, his lack of self-belief inspires pity in him.
Stanhope: It may not be much longer now. I've had my share of luck - more than my share.
Here Stanhope is saying that he has had good fortune before, and that is likely to run out soon. This is implying that he thinks he will die soon on the trenches and is reinforced by 'it may not be much longer now'. It is almost as though he doesn't care about dieing any more and this makes the audience sympathise with Stanhope.
Stanhope: I just prayed to come through the war - and - and do things - and keep absolutely fit for her.
Stanhope is telling us about how he regrets things with Raleigh's sister, and we sympathise with him because we understand that he is desperate to go back to her.
Stanhope: I knew I'd go mad if I didn't break the strain. I couldn't bear being fully conscious all the time.
We can tell that Stanhope finds life in the trenches very tough and we sympathise with him not only for his tough time there, but also for the fact that people mock him for his drinking, when there is a very sombre reason for it.
Stanhope: You know! You know he'll write and tell her I reek of of whisky all day.
We can tell that Stanhope is very worried and upset by the fact that Raleigh's sister, Madge, might be told that he is no longer the man he once was.
Stanhope: Censorship! I censor his letter - cross out all he says about me.
Here we sympathise for Stanhope because of the desperate measure he feels that he has to take.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Letter from an officer
Dear Mother and Father
I hope you are well! I have just arrived at the front line, a mere 50 yards away from the German's. I am eager to make a good impression, although the trenches are a little different to what I had imagined. They're in an awful state! Rats scurrying around everywhere and the beds have no wiring on the bottom! At least I have boots though. Most of the privates have to make do without, the poor sods!
It's not all bad though, the other officers are nice although drunkards! We have a good laugh here in our quarters as we eat our watery soup - the water itself aint great either actually, some sort of disinfectant in it - I can't be too harsh though, the chef, mason, he tries his best.
I went out on my first patrol today, eerily quiet out there. you wouldn't think there was a war going on. But it all happned at once, a deafening sound and all I could feel was profound terror. I trembled behind the wall covered in barbed wire and it wasn't long before the bombing raid was over. Plenty of those here!
I'm missing the comfort of home and school, and I'm certainly looking forward to coming back! Only 6 more days till I'm off duty though, I've even made up a little calendar so I can cross something off after each hour! Keeps me going I guess!
Don't worry about me, I'll make it through.
Jonny
I hope you are well! I have just arrived at the front line, a mere 50 yards away from the German's. I am eager to make a good impression, although the trenches are a little different to what I had imagined. They're in an awful state! Rats scurrying around everywhere and the beds have no wiring on the bottom! At least I have boots though. Most of the privates have to make do without, the poor sods!
It's not all bad though, the other officers are nice although drunkards! We have a good laugh here in our quarters as we eat our watery soup - the water itself aint great either actually, some sort of disinfectant in it - I can't be too harsh though, the chef, mason, he tries his best.
I went out on my first patrol today, eerily quiet out there. you wouldn't think there was a war going on. But it all happned at once, a deafening sound and all I could feel was profound terror. I trembled behind the wall covered in barbed wire and it wasn't long before the bombing raid was over. Plenty of those here!
I'm missing the comfort of home and school, and I'm certainly looking forward to coming back! Only 6 more days till I'm off duty though, I've even made up a little calendar so I can cross something off after each hour! Keeps me going I guess!
Don't worry about me, I'll make it through.
Jonny
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Warfare from the 'The Last Tommy's' point of view
Just over 3 years ago Harry Patch, the last British soldier alive who had fought in World War One, died aged 111. While he is known as 'The Last Tommy', he has very strong views about war, its morals and the governments that cause war. After meeting a 107 year old Germany veteran of World War One, Patch had this to day:
"It makes me angry. Earlier this year, I went back to Ypres to shake the hand of Herr Kuentz, Germany's only surviving veteran from the war. It was emotional. He is 107. We've had 87 years to think what war is. To me, it's a licence to go out and murder. Why should the British government call me up and take me out to a battlefield to shoot a man I never knew, whose language I couldn't speak? All those lives lost for a war finished over a table. Now what is the sense in that?"
This is the view held by many around the world and no one has the right to say this more than Patch himself. he believes that war is not moral, whatever the reasons, and killing in war is murder all the same. He is angry that he was forced to spend years of his life in the horrible conditions in the trenches, while being forced to kill those who he did not even know, for reasons that he hardly understood. The last line sums it up nicely, after millions of lives lost, it was all resolved over a table on a train. What was the need for it all...?
"It makes me angry. Earlier this year, I went back to Ypres to shake the hand of Herr Kuentz, Germany's only surviving veteran from the war. It was emotional. He is 107. We've had 87 years to think what war is. To me, it's a licence to go out and murder. Why should the British government call me up and take me out to a battlefield to shoot a man I never knew, whose language I couldn't speak? All those lives lost for a war finished over a table. Now what is the sense in that?"
This is the view held by many around the world and no one has the right to say this more than Patch himself. he believes that war is not moral, whatever the reasons, and killing in war is murder all the same. He is angry that he was forced to spend years of his life in the horrible conditions in the trenches, while being forced to kill those who he did not even know, for reasons that he hardly understood. The last line sums it up nicely, after millions of lives lost, it was all resolved over a table on a train. What was the need for it all...?
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
How does Osbourne help Raleigh?
Raleigh, one of the key figures in the play, is a very young and inexperienced young man. He is helped to settle in and understand how to get by in the trenches by Osbourne, and this is shown in the 10 quotes which I have found in Act one, from pages 16 - 21:
Osborne: Sit down, won't you?
Raleigh: Thanks.
Osbourne: I should take your pack off.
This quote tells us that when Raleigh first enters, he is so eager to please that he follows what Osbourne has said without even thinking to take his pack off.
Osborne: Will you have a drink?
Raleigh: Er - Well -
Osborne: You don't drink whisky?
Raleigh: Oh, yer - er - just a small one, sir.
Osborne: Whisky takes away the taste of the water -
Raleigh: Oh yes?
This again shows Raleigh's eagerness to please Osborne and he learns from Osborne that the water is bad tasting and it is good to add whisky to it.
Osborne: My name's Osborne. I'm second in command of the company. You only call me 'sir' in front of men
Oswald is again teaching Raleigh about the customs in the army.
Osborne: We've only just moved into these trenches. Captain Stanhope commands the company.
Osborne is trying to help Raleigh by giving him information about the current situation.
Raleigh: I suppose I ought to call him Captain Stanhope?
Osborne: Just 'Stanhope'.
Again, Osborne corrects Raleigh about how to address people in the army. He is trying to help Raleigh settle into army life.
Raleigh: Can we write often?
Osborne: Oh, yes. Letters are collected every day.
Here, Osborne is helping Raleigh get to know how things work in the trenches by answering his questions helpfully.
Osborne: You know, Raleigh, you mustn't expect to find him - quite the same
Raleigh: Oh?
Osborne: You see, he's been out here a long time. It - it tells on a man - rather badly -
Osborne is telling Raleigh about the horrible effect that the war can have on people, and how they might change
Osborne: I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the others come and pick the beds they want................... Better wait and unpack when you know where you are sleeping.
Osborne outlines the sleeping arrangements and explains that the more experienced and important officers get the first choice of beds. Raleigh replies cheerfully with 'Righto!', this demonstrates how he is keen to impress.
Osborne: We never undress when we're in the line. You can take your boots off now and then in the daytime, but it's better to keep pretty well dressed always.
This is another useful piece of general advice which Osborne gives Raleigh.
Raleigh: Are we in the front line here?
Osborne: No. That's the support line outside. the front line's about fifty yards farther on.
This demonstrates Raleigh's lack of knowledge about the trenches, and how Osborne is helpful in answering his question.
Osborne: Sit down, won't you?
Raleigh: Thanks.
Osbourne: I should take your pack off.
This quote tells us that when Raleigh first enters, he is so eager to please that he follows what Osbourne has said without even thinking to take his pack off.
Osborne: Will you have a drink?
Raleigh: Er - Well -
Osborne: You don't drink whisky?
Raleigh: Oh, yer - er - just a small one, sir.
Osborne: Whisky takes away the taste of the water -
Raleigh: Oh yes?
This again shows Raleigh's eagerness to please Osborne and he learns from Osborne that the water is bad tasting and it is good to add whisky to it.
Osborne: My name's Osborne. I'm second in command of the company. You only call me 'sir' in front of men
Oswald is again teaching Raleigh about the customs in the army.
Osborne: We've only just moved into these trenches. Captain Stanhope commands the company.
Osborne is trying to help Raleigh by giving him information about the current situation.
Raleigh: I suppose I ought to call him Captain Stanhope?
Osborne: Just 'Stanhope'.
Again, Osborne corrects Raleigh about how to address people in the army. He is trying to help Raleigh settle into army life.
Raleigh: Can we write often?
Osborne: Oh, yes. Letters are collected every day.
Here, Osborne is helping Raleigh get to know how things work in the trenches by answering his questions helpfully.
Osborne: You know, Raleigh, you mustn't expect to find him - quite the same
Raleigh: Oh?
Osborne: You see, he's been out here a long time. It - it tells on a man - rather badly -
Osborne is telling Raleigh about the horrible effect that the war can have on people, and how they might change
Osborne: I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the others come and pick the beds they want................... Better wait and unpack when you know where you are sleeping.
Osborne outlines the sleeping arrangements and explains that the more experienced and important officers get the first choice of beds. Raleigh replies cheerfully with 'Righto!', this demonstrates how he is keen to impress.
Osborne: We never undress when we're in the line. You can take your boots off now and then in the daytime, but it's better to keep pretty well dressed always.
This is another useful piece of general advice which Osborne gives Raleigh.
Raleigh: Are we in the front line here?
Osborne: No. That's the support line outside. the front line's about fifty yards farther on.
This demonstrates Raleigh's lack of knowledge about the trenches, and how Osborne is helpful in answering his question.
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