In R.C. Sherriff's

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The character in R.C. Sherriff's play, Journeys End, Stanhope is Captain of company C. Before the war he was strongly apposed to drinking and smoking; hitting anyone whom he found doing so, getting quite passionate about it. Stanhope was also a fan of playing rugger and cricket. The war has taken its toll on him however, both in positive and negative ways. One side; a dedicated captain who has won an honour (military Cross), the other; a poor excuse of a man; drinking and smoking, things which he despised so. Raleigh's arrival shook Stanhope up a bit; seeing him for the first time in years. He is anxious that Raleigh would tell his sister (Stanhope's fiancée) about how he has change. Sherriff presentation of Stanhope is both heroic, yet also the part of him which is a drunken mess.

Stanhope wishes to censor the letters to confirm whether or not Raleigh has written anything bad about him. Sherriff shows Stanhope's anger by the conflict between him and Raleigh; with short, sharp sentences and periodical intervals of silence. For example: "He stops as he notices the abrupt silence that follows his entry," this pause instantly creates tension.