Journey's End - We are given two opinions of Stanhope in act one. In your opinion, whose view is proved correct by the end of the play?

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Journey’s End

        We are given two opinions of Stanhope in act one.  In your opinion, whose view is proved correct by the end of the play?

        In the first scene of the play, we find Hardy, who is a captain talking with Osborne, an officer of a lower rank than Hardy.  We know that these two are good friends because they always joking around:

‘ “5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  All quiet.  German flew over.  Shot a rat”

“Did you?”

“No I shot the rat you ass” ’

        For most of the scene they talk about another Captain- Stanhope.  Both Hardy and Osborne know that Stanhope drinks a lot, but they both have different views on it.  Hardy constantly emphasises the point, and keeps bringing up examples of when and why he drinks, while Osborne tries to defend Stanhope instead:

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‘ “How is the dear young boy?  Drinking like a fish as usual?”  ’

‘ “He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got.”  ’

        Osborne even comes up with excuses for reasons as to why Stanhope drinks so much:

‘ “Other men come over here and go home again ill, and young Stanhope goes on sticking it’

        Hardy goes on to talk about how Osborne should be the Captain of that company, and Osborne keeps defending Stanhope: talking about how much longer he’s been out there and even says that he might command the whole battalion.

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