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.