journeys end

Alternative transcript:

Raleigh lies dying with Stanhope by his side. The dugout collapses as Stanhope leaves the stage. The ending is ambiguous and we are left uncertain about the fate of the remaining characters. Context Sherriff worked in his father's insurance business until he entered the army in World War I, serving as a captain in the East Surrey Regiment. He drew on his war experiences in the writing of the play. Some critics argue that Hibbert is a representation of Sherriff himself. A global conflict that lasted from July 1914 to November 1918. The Central Powers (including Germany and the Ottoman Empire) fought against the Allied Powers (including Britain and France, the USA and Russia). On March 21st, there was a significant push by the German forces, under the command of General Ludendorff to break through the allies' defences on the Western front. Early recruitment campaigns focused on patriotism, duty and ideas of 'manliness'. Sherriff addresses this issue throughout the text. Sherriff specifically chose to set the play in a dugout in order to recreate the war experience. Much time was spent patrolling and waiting in the trenches, as opposed to going 'over the top.' 1 2 3 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Frontline Masculinity and heroism Futility and waste Stanhope Raleigh Osborne Hibbert Trotter Mason Colonel Journey's End Themes Sherriff highlights one of the most difficult conditions of life on the frontline: the waiting, and the tension caused as a consequence. This sense of anticipation provokes different responses in each of the characters. Sherriff re-defines pre-war ideals of masculinity and heroism. Stanhope is the greatest victim of these expectations, and Raleigh's arrival in the dugout is used to emphasise this. Sherriff uses this text to illustrate the human cost of war, and the sacrifices that many men had to make. Within the dugout, Stanhope and his men are the 'earwigs', running around and awaiting their deaths. Characters Stanhope both vulnerable and strong, paranoid and brave. He represents endurance in the text, having never returned home out of fear of how his changed character will be perceived. His dependence on alcohol illustrates the mental toil of warfare. Through Stanhope, Sherriff redefines the idea of a 'war hero'. Raleigh is an 'outsider' to the dugout, and embodies the characteristics of a typical public school boy. He is hopeful, ignorant and excited about warfare. As the play progresses, he begins to realise the human cost of war. Osborne is a natural leader in the text. Empathetic and loyal, he is affectionately called 'Uncle' for a reason. His death off-stage is significant; through this, Sherriff uses Osborne to represent yet another man 'lost', a solider whose body was never recovered. Hibbert is another 'outsider' to the dugout, a character who is not fully part of the team. Hibbert represents all of those soldiers who struggled with the horrors of shell-shock, much like Sherriff himself. Unlike Stanhope, Raleigh and Osborne, Trotter is not public school educated. He appears as a contented character in the text, and Sherriff suggests that this because he has his own strategies for dealing with fear: food and monitoring the passing of time. Mason's working class background is emphasised in his vocabulary, and Sherriff uses the simplicity of this to provide comic relief in the play. Mason is often a mother substitute, but also fights alongside the others in the final act. The Colonel is used to illustrate the chain of command in the army. Through him, Sherriff shows how Stanhope and the others are merely cogs in the war machine; they have little free will and have to obey orders. 4 5 6 I 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 Comradeship Social class Year Group: 12 Impact on the individual 10 Realism Stage directions Post- traumatic stress disorder Repression Public School Patriotism Tragic Hero Cowardice Censorship enjoy learn succeed Although all of the characters in the text come from different backgrounds and experiences, the war unites them. Sherriff presents them as a family unit: Osborne is the wisest 'Uncle', Stanhope a father-figure despite his youth, and Raleigh the youngest son. Sherriff uses his text to explore the link between life in the trenches and public school. There is an atmosphere of the school dormitory in the dugout, and a definite sense of hierarchy. The war has a significant impact upon of all the characters within the dugout, but it is through Stanhope and Hibbert that Sherriff most shows the damaging effect of war upon the individual. Key Vocabulary A general movement that began in the 19th century and saw a set of theatrical conventions established that aimed to bring greater fidelity of real life to texts/performances, e.g. the dialogue in the play. Instructions written in the script of a play that give greater direction to the actors or information about the scenery. Known as shellshock during WWI, PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Much of the tension in the play comes from things that cannot be said, shown either through pauses or understatement. Private, fee-charging school. Public schools were seen as an early training ground for warfare, instilling virtues of fairness, endurance and self-control in its students. Devotion to and vigorous support for one's country. Britain's propaganda campaign was built around this. Stanhope could be considered a tragic hero. This is a character with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall. Sherriff shows how courage was redefined in the war. It became more about endurance than acts of valour. Letters written to loved ones at home went through a process of censorship so the British Army could control morale on the Home Front.