How does Sherriff explore the idea of dependency in the Journey's end?

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How does Sherriff explore the idea of dependency in the play?

The play is set during the end of the First World War in 1918. It explores the feelings of the British military personnel involved and the capture of a German prisoner provides an opportunity to explore the fact that they were all just human beings. The play was written 10 years after the 1st WW which gave the writer the opportunity to understand the effect of the war on the men involved and their families. His first audience would probably have had first hand experience of the war, or knew someone affected by it. The writer presents the emotions of the soldiers: their fears, humour, loyalty, bravery, anticipation of the unknown, and the audience would probably have identified with those feelings. Lives in the trenches meant they were dependent on each other, and on their commanding officers to maintain discipline and had to follow orders at all times.

Sheriff uses the subject of dependency on alcohol to show how men needed something to help them over come their fears. In a conversation with his friend Osbourne, Stanhope admits that, "if I went up those steps without