JOURNEY'S END - The Changing Relationship Between Stanhope and Raleigh

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JOURNEY’S END – The Changing Relationship Between Stanhope and Raleigh

Journey’s End is a well received play written in 1928, by R.C Sherriff. The play is set in a trench system, which were used during most of the Great War. In the play we get an insight into a fascinating relationship between a Junior officer, Raleigh, and the commanding officer, Stanhope. The relationship shows us some effects of the war and it has many ups and down which are well portrayed. During this essay I will comment about the ever changing relationship between young Raleigh and Stanhope.

Commanding officer Stanhope is the company commander and is therefore under constant pressure, as he had to make tactical decisions and is also responsible for the welfare for a number of officers. Stanhope is considered as one of the best infantry commanders, ‘ He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got’, Osborne (Pg 4). Stanhope forms a strong bond the officers, he is seen as hard working and passionate, ‘His commanded this company for a year – in and out of the front line. He’s never had a rest. Other men come over here and go home again ill, young Stanhope goes on sticking it, mouth in, mouth out’, Osborne (pg6).

Stanhope particularly forms a strong bond with Officer Osborne, Stanhope has been involved in war activities since the war started and we see that during this time Stanhope has grown a close relationship with Osborne, and sees him as an ‘Uncle-figure’. Numerous times we see that Stanhope refers to Osborne as, ‘Uncle’.

The character of Stanhope also shows the dread and stress of war, we learn of commander Stanhope drinking vice, often he is reduced to endless bottles of whisky to revert from the stress of war, it shows how badly men were affected. His problem with drinking is seen to a large extent, the reason why the relationship between himself and Raleigh is never stable and is continually changing. His drinking problem is highlighted throughout the play, ‘ Drinking as a fish as usual’, (pg 4). He is seen as a workaholic, ‘ I’ve seen him on his back all day with trench fever – then on duty all night’, (pg 6) and it seems as of he is not coping well at all, ‘ Lost control of himself; and the he – sort of -  came to – and cried’, (pg 6).

Raleigh is a young officer, drafted out from England into commander Stanhope’s infantry. Raleigh is a very inexperienced soldier, having just been transported from England and the prospect of being one of Stanhope’s officers is a momentous boost to his fragile confidence. Raleigh is a very enthusiastic character as, we can see, ‘ Yes rather! We were at school together – at least – of course – I was only a kid and he was one of the big fellows’, Raleigh (pg 11). And his enthusiasm and confidence is greatly amplified by the fact that he is in Stanhope’s infantry and that himself and Stanhope were the best of friends back in England.

Before Raleigh and Stanhope acquaint themselves Raleigh tells Osborne of his friendship with Stanhope back in England, with great enthusiasm. He tells Osborne of how their fathers were great friends and that ‘Dennis’ (Stanhope) used to stay with Raleigh in the holidays. Raleigh seems extremely vibrant and tells Osborne of how they were ‘great pals’, and we also learn that Stanhope has a more precious bond with Raleigh’s sister.

With their past friendship and the fact that amazingly Raleigh was sent to Stanhope’s infantry, it seems as if they are set for a close, strong relationship, but as we know it is not that simple. We see from the offset that the relationship takes a twist, and the relationship from that point onwards is never the same.

Raleigh is bubbling with excitement because of the prospect of once again meeting his good friend Stanhope. Stanhope comes into the play after a brief conversation between Raleigh and Osborne, and straight away we see the tension between Stanhope and Raleigh. As Stanhope acquaints himself with Raleigh there seems to be a dry, quiet atmosphere, ‘ he turns and peers into the dim corner where Raleigh stands, smiling awkwardly’, Raleigh looks at Stanhope and enthusiastically and says, ‘ Hullo, Stanhope!’, while Stanhope looks at Raleigh and with a low voice says, ‘ How did you – get here?’ (pg 18). Straight away we can perceive that Stanhope is different (which Osborne had earlier warned Raleigh). The tone in which he answers Raleigh seems to suggest he doesn’t want Raleigh there and he seems surprised. Sentences such as, ‘Oh. I see. Rather a coincidence’ and  ‘When did you get here. I see’, seem to suggest this. It seems he doesn’t want Raleigh there, this may be because he doesn’t want to show Raleigh what he has become (due to his drink problem caused by the stress and pressure) and also he has to cope with an extra officer, the officer being young means he is under more pressure to perform and educate ( Raleigh sees Stanhope as a heroic figure). It seems he is angry that Raleigh has joined his battalion, considering there were 180,000 altogether.

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The relationship as we can see gets off to a bad start and eventually gets even worse.

Stanhope’s drink problem is one of the reasons for Stanhope’s change. He has been reduced to drink due to the long hours and immense pressure, ‘ you must remember he’s commanded this company for a long time – through all sorts of rotten times. It’s - it’s a big strain on a man’, Osborne (pg 13). Throughout the play he consumes large amounts of whisky, we see his urgency for drink in a number of cases. When Raleigh and Stanhope are reacquainted ...

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