Chose two soldiers from the play and explain how the playwright uses the Japanese prisoner to show us more about their characters.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Ben Gibb

GCSE coursework 'The Long and the Short and the Tall'

Kings Norton' Boys School

Mrs Fowler

Chose two soldiers from the play and explain how the playwright uses the Japanese prisoner to show us more about their characters.

In the opening act, we obviously see Bamforth's disregard for authority; emphasised in the stage directions:

"Raises himself with studied unconcern" and "pulls himself slowly to his feet"

So our first impression of Bamforth is an unprofessional private who lacks discipline. When Johnston gives Bamforth orders to 'watch his step' he intentionally answers back with a sarcastic comment: "you threatening me corp" this visibly shows us that Bamforths character is someone who hates authority leading to an obvious resentment against Johnston, who is a corporal.

Soon after we witness Bamforths personality turn quite violent as he makes threatening remarks about Johnston's face: "I'll smash his face"

The writer conveys Bamforth as a malicious man who holds grudges easily and doesn't care about the consequences.

When Macleish tries to exert his authority, Bamforth responds not with threats but with racist name-calling: