Hardy: What Purpose does he serve in the play?

Hardy appears at the start of Act 1, and although he is introduced as a 'character', he never really develops as he leaves at the beginning of the play, and doesn't come back. he is used purely as a way to get the audience to understand the conditions of the war, and to set the scene.

Hardy gives the audience the following information which sets the scene:

Drinking Water

Osborne: I wonder what it is they put in the water
Hardy: Some sort of disinfectant, I suppose
Osborne: I'd rather have the microbes wouldn't you
Hardy: I would - yes - 

This shows the harsh conditions of the trenches.

Wet Trenches

Hardy: Cheero. Excuse my sock, won't you?
Osborne: Certainly. It's a nice-looking sock.
Hardy: It is rather, isn't it? Guaranteed to keep the feet dry. trouble is, it gets so wet doing it

This tells us that the trenches are very wet and underlines are image of harsh conditions in the trenches.

Fighting

Hardy: Sometimes nothing happens for hours on end; then - all of a sudden - 'over she comes!' - rifle grenades - Minnies - and those horrid little things like pineapples - you know.

Here Hardy explains that in the war, nothing happens for a large amount of time, and the fighting can start at any time.

The German Attack

Hardy: By the way, you know the big German's attack's expected any day now

Hardy repeatedly tells Osborne about the German attack which is likely to happen in the next few days.

Length of Stay

Hardy: Are you here for six days?
Osborne: Yes.

This tells us that each officer takes turns on six day posts. Hardy has just finished his, whereas Osbourne is just about to begin.

Size of Front Controlled

Hardy: Here we are. We hold about two hundred yards of front line.

This tells us that the British have control of a large amount of ground in the front line.

Sleeping Arrangements

Osborne: Five beds you say. Is this the best one?
Hardy: Oh no [he points to the bed in the right corner]. That's mine

This shows that the most important officer takes the best bed.

Sleeping Conditions

Hardy: The ones in the other dugout haven't got any bottoms to them. You keep yourself in by hanging your arms and legs over the sides. Mustn't hang your legs too low, or the rats gnaw your boots'

Emphasises the terrible living conditions.

Number of Rats


Osborne: You got many rats here?
Hardy: I should say - roughly - about two million....

Hardy is exaggerating the number of rats, however it still emphasises how horrible it is to live in the dugout.

Gallows Humour

Osborne: I know. There's nothing worse than dirt in you tea.

Hardy and Osborne introduce us to 'Gallows Humour', where humour is made out of a very serious and grave situation. Obviously in the middle of a war, there is plenty worse than dirt in your tea...

Stanhope

Osborne: He's a long way the best company commander we've got.
Hardy Oh, he's a good chap, I know. But I never did did see a youngster put away the whisky like he does.

This is how Stanhope is introduced to us, as an excellent commander but an alcoholic as well.