20th Century Drama - The name of this play is Journey's End, written by R. C. Sherriff.
20th Century Drama
Introduction
The name of this play is Journey's End, written by R. C. Sherriff. The play was first preformed on a Sunday night in December 1928. By 1929 it was being shown at the Savoy Theatre where it ran for two years. Later I will be studying the characters of Stanhope and Osborne, and how they link in with the title "Journey's End", and I will also examine the idea of journeys. I will also study the impact the play had, why it was so successful and journeys of the minor characters, Hibbert, Raleigh and Trotter.
Journeys
The subtext of the play is about journeys, mental, physical and emotional. Each character in the play goes through their own journey, but each face it in a different way.
The Impact of the Play
At first, no theatre managers wanted to show Journey's End as they thought it wouldn't be interesting to the public and no-one would want to see a play without women in or want to be reminded about the war ten years after it had ended. But they were wrong, and the play was a success. Before Journey's End was written, most plays were about love affairs between upper-class people and were mostly for entertainment purposes, whereas Journey's End is about something real, something dramatic, without being over played. Journey's End was different, and therefore theatre managers didn't want to risk showing it, in case it was a failure. Many people thought R.C.Sherrif had written the play for political purposes, or to mock the government e.g. the way the raid was handled by the commanding officers. But it was written to give a tangible account of what the war was like, not from the ordinary soldiers point of view, but from the officers' point of view.
The Minor Journeys
Hibbert's journey is a rather dramatic one. It starts at the beginning of the play, with him complaining of neuralgia. Stanhope doesn't believe that Hibbert really has neuralgia, but thinks he is using it as an excuse to get out of the front line. Later, Hibbert tries to leave, to go see the doctor so he can go home, but Stanhope confronts Hibbert who still tries to leave. Stanhope threatens to shoot Hibbert, who stands there and shows courage by telling Stanhope to shoot him. This is a turning point in Hibbert's journey. Stanhope has realized that Hibbert may not actually have neuralgia, but may just be terrified of what may happen in the war. Stanhope tells Hibbert that he is terrified of what may happen, and in that moment, Hibbert decides to stay, and to fight on. That is the major event in Hibbert's journey. Hibbert's journey went from being scared to showing courage and bravery by staying. His journey ends in the big German attack at the end of the play.
Trotter's journey is simpler, and mostly revolves around food, and where his next meal is coming from. Back home trotter is a keen gardener, and has grown a prize Hollyhock. His journey ends in the big German attack at the end of the play.
Raleigh's journey is, and has been, strongly influenced by Stanhope, and his presence in Raleigh's life. Stanhope knew Raleigh before the war, as their fathers were friends. When he first arrives in the trenches, at the beginning of the play, he is very enthusiastic about being in the war and in Stanhope's company, ...
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Trotter's journey is simpler, and mostly revolves around food, and where his next meal is coming from. Back home trotter is a keen gardener, and has grown a prize Hollyhock. His journey ends in the big German attack at the end of the play.
Raleigh's journey is, and has been, strongly influenced by Stanhope, and his presence in Raleigh's life. Stanhope knew Raleigh before the war, as their fathers were friends. When he first arrives in the trenches, at the beginning of the play, he is very enthusiastic about being in the war and in Stanhope's company, but this soon changes because of Stanhope's reactions to his presence. Raleigh finds it easy to relate to Osborne, because Osborne was a schoolmaster and Raleigh has come to the front line straight from school. After the raid and Osborne's death, Raleigh understood why Stanhope had reacted to him the way he had, but because he felt Stanhope blamed him for Osborne's death, he couldn't talk to him. Raleigh's journey ends in the dugout during the big German attack near the end of the play.
The Major Journeys
Captain Stanhope's journey is mainly one of hope; hope that he'll survive the war and that his men and friends will survive the war. Stanhope's journey through life was quite easy until the start of the war. Stanhope joined the army straight from school, and has been in the trenches for three years now, in and out of the front line. He has received the Military Cross at some point in his army career, but it is never mentioned what for. Stanhope started to drink heavily after an incident at Vimy Ridge
" It was after I came back here - in that awful affair on Vimy Ridge. I knew I'd go mad if I didn't break the strain."
Because of his drinking he is infamous around the camp as a drinker, although the officers try to "hush-up" how bad his alcoholism really is,
"We tried to hush it up. It just shows the state he's in."
"Last time out resting we were playing bridge and something happened - I don't remember what it was; some silly little argument - and all of a sudden he jumped up and knocked all the glasses off the table! Lost control of himself; and then he - sort of - came to - and cried -"
This is said by Captain Hardy, who was holding that bit of the trench before Stanhope's company was. Another thing said by Hardy is of how much whiskey Stanhope can drink
" ... a whole bottle in one hour fourteen minutes"
Osborne's reply is one of defence for Stanhope
" ... because he's stuck it till his nerves have got battered to bits, he's called a drunkard".
Stanhope is an inspiration to his men, who admire him because he has been in the front line for so long, and come out of it relatively unscathed. Stanhope is a good commander of his soldiers; this is backed up by Osborne's talk with Captain Hardy.
"There isn't a man to touch him as a commander of men. He'll command the battalion one day..."
Stanhope also cares about the state of the trenches, as his men have to live in them, and sick men can't fight.
"HARDY: Well, no, I don't specially want to see him. He's so fussy about the trenches. I expect they are rather dirty. He'll talk for hours if he catches me."
Stanhope gets drunk later on in the play, and starts to babble.
"Gone has he? Y'know, I had a word to say to Master Hardy. He would go, the swine! Dirty trenches - everything dirty - I wanner tell him to keep his trenches clean."
Osborne replies to this, telling Stanhope that they'll clean up tomorrow.
"Dear old Uncle! Clean trenches up - with little dustpan and brush [he laughs] Make you little apron - with lace on it."
Stanhope's relationship with Hibbert is strained, because Stanhope thinks that Hibbert is trying to get back home. This angers Stanhope, who has been in the trenches for three years.
"Another little worm trying to wriggle home."
The author never actually states whether Hibbert has neuralgia or not, and this leads us to think that maybe he was just afraid, and this leads us to believe that Hibbert is more courageous than if he did have neuralgia and was staying. The way Stanhope persuades Hibbert to stay is very clever. First, he takes away Hibbert's reason for going by saying that he also has neuralgia. Then he threatens to shoot Hibbert if he tries to leave the dugout, knowing that if Hibbert is actually afraid of dying, then he will break down, and confess that his only reason for wanting to go was because he didn't want to die.
"Go on, then, shoot! You wont let me go to hospital. I swear I'll never go into those trenches again. Shoot! - and thank God -"
This shows just how strained Hibbert really is, how fearful he is of dying in the trenches, and yet he stands there and faces up to death. Stanhope sees this and congratulates Hibbert.
"Good man Hibbert. I liked the way you stuck that"
It is after this that Stanhope reveals to Hibbert that he knows exactly how he is feeling, because he feels the same.
(Stanhope has offered Hibbert a drink)
"STANHOPE: I know what you feel, Hibbert. I've know all along -
HIBBERT: How can you know?
STANHOPE: Because I feel the same - exactly the same! Every little noise up there makes me fell - just as you feel. Why didn't you talk to me instead of talking about neuralgia? We all feel like you do sometimes, if only you knew. I hate and loathe it all. Sometimes I feel like I could just lie down on this bed and pretend I was paralysed or something - and couldn't move - and just lie there till I died - or was dragged away."
Stanhope's journey becomes more difficult after the arrival of Raleigh. This is because Raleigh has a kind of "hero worship" of Stanhope,
" STANHOPE: Small boys at school do generally have their heroes.
OSBOURNE: Often it goes on as long as -
STANHOPE: - as long the hero's a hero.
OSBOURNE: It often goes on all through life. "
This is the last thing he needs to hear, as Stanhope fears that Raleigh will view him, not as the sport playing rugger captain figure he saw him as when they were at school together, but as a drunkard. Stanhope also fears that Raleigh will write home to his sister, with whom Stanhope was having a relationship, and tell her about his drinking, and that she will be very disappointed and will finish her relationship with Stanhope. Stanhope decides to censor all Raleigh's letters, because as company commander Stanhope has the right to read all letters sent home.
"He won't write. Censorship. I censor his letters - cross out all he says about me."
Finally, when Raleigh does write the letter, Stanhope is unable to read it and gives to Osborne etc.
Stanhope's shock at seeing Raleigh in the trenches is clearly shown in the stage directions; in the first scene Stanhope and Raleigh are in the dugout.
"(He stops short at the sight of RALEIGH), (STANHOPE stares at RALEIGH as though dazed.)
Raleigh's reactions to Stanhope are no less awkward.
(...RALEIGH stands smiling awkwardly), (with a nervous laugh).
After the raid into the German trenches, lead by Raleigh and Osborne, in which Osborne dies, the relationship between Stanhope and Raleigh takes a turn for the worst. The officers, Stanhope, Hibbert and trotter are having a dinner party with supplies sent to celebrate a successful raid. Stanhope had asked Raleigh to attend, but Raleigh had stayed up in the trenches with the men, and had been offered some of their rations. This angers Stanhope, because he believes that Raleigh is deliberately avoiding him, and is scared it is because of his drinking. Raleigh lashes out at Stanhope, saying his reason for not coming down for the party was because he couldn't face the thought of having a party whilst Osborne's body was lying out in no-mans-land, and this when the reason for Stanhope's drinking is revealed.
"RALEIGH: Good God! Don't you understand? How can I sit down and eat that - when - [his voice is nearly breaking] - when Osborne's - lying - out there -
[STANHOPE rises slowly. His eyes are wide and staring; he is fighting for breath, and his words come brokenly]
STANHOPE: My God! You bloody little swine! You think I don't care - you think you're the only soul that cares!
RALEIGH: And yet you can sit there and drink champagne - and smoke cigars -
STANHOPE: The one man I could trust - my best friend - the one man I could talk to as man-to-man - who understood everything - and you think I don't care -
RALEIGH: But how can you when -?
STANHOPE: To forget, you little fool - to forget! D'you understand? To forget! You think there's no limit to what a man can bare? [He turns quickly from RALEIGH and goes to the dark corner by OSBORNE'S bed. He stands with his face towards the wall, his shoulders heaving as he fights for breath.]
RALEIGH: I'm awfully sorry, Dennis. I - I didn't understand.
[STANHOPE makes no reply.]
STANHOPE: Go away, please - leave me alone.
RALEIGH: Can't I -
[STANHOPE turns wildly on RALEIGH]
STANHOPE: Oh, get out! For God's sake, get out!"
This exchange between Stanhope and Raleigh is one of the most dramatic parts of the play. This is where Raleigh begins to understand why Stanhope has reacted the way he has to Raleigh's presence. Stanhope's journey was made more difficult by the death of Osborne, and he blames Raleigh for this, because Osborne was waiting for Raleigh when he was killed. At the end of the play, after Raleigh has been brought down into the dugout after being wounded by some shrapnel, Stanhope realises how nasty he has been to Raleigh, and tries to make amends. He makes light of Raleigh's injury, and tells him he's getting sent back to England to recover. Stanhope tries to make Raleigh more comfortable by bringing him some water, blankets and candles when he complains that it's dark and cold. Stanhope is grief-stricken when Raleigh dies as his actions clearly show.
[STANHOPE GENTLY TAKES HIS (RALEIGH'S) HAND. ... AND STARES LISTLESSLY...]
This is almost the end of Stanhope's journey, and we have to assume that he dies in the German attack. Stanhope is a flawed hero.
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R.G.S
James Greenwood
