Journeys End Drama Studies

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Annie Gott

By close analysis of key scenes in “Journey's End” outline and evaluate the ways in which R.C.Sherriff creates and maintains dramatic tension in this play

Journeys End is a play that creates a lot of dramatic tension throughout it, and there are several ways in which the author, R.C.Sheriff, creates and maintains tension. Not only is tension created by the characters on stage, but also by various techniques including the lighting, sound and stage directions.

  I understand dramatic tension as the art of making the audience interested in the play that’s going them on and keeping them enthralled with the story line. It is when the playwright has the ability to keep the story line fast and exciting as to keep the readers attention in the play. It makes the audience sit on the edge of their seats, eager to know what is taking place on stage. Tension is created with the general feeling of not knowing what is going to happen and not knowing characters reactions.

  I am also going to be writing about the context of the play. This is the background or setting of the time the piece of work was created. This will affect the content and also the values that are expressed.

  Before the play starts, there is a large section of stage directions which set the scene for the play. The lightning on the stage is very dim and it is very dark. This adds tension as; if we refer to the common inference, of black signifying evil, death and despair that something terrible is to happen in this play. I can also assume that there is a large amount of noise, for example, guns and planes. The standard background of the war as we know it.

  The first scene I am going to start with is Act I p16. This scene is the part where Raleigh is first introduced to Osborne, the company and to the audience.

  From the talk between Osborne and Hardy a few moments earlier, the audience has already learned of Stanhope’s problems and two different opinions of him. This creates dramatic tension within the audience as this new character sounds exciting and thrilling. It is clear to see that this character will contribute interest to the play. However the tension is greatly increased when we meet Raleigh, and his perceptions of Stanhope. Raleigh is living off the good memories he has of Stanhope when they were young. One could argue that Raleigh is quite naive as he refuses to believe that Stanhope can change because of the effects of the war. This can also add tension as we don’t know how Raleigh will cope with the fighting and despair. He is so very optimistic and this creates dramatic irony.

  Dramatic irony is where the audience knows something that has happened previously in the play, but is still unknown to one or several of the characters. We as the audience know of Stanhope’s problems and as the conversation between Raleigh and Osborne continues, the tension builds up again as we hear Osborne trying to break the news lightly to Raleigh about the changes in Stanhope. On page 19, Osborne says to Raleigh:

 

 “If you notice a – difference in Stanhope – you’ll know it’s only the strain –“

 We as an audience know that this statement is only being said to comfort and try and ease the blow to Raleigh and the tension is increased as Raleigh’s interpretation of Stanhope does not change. We are all aware of how Raleigh will react to seeing Stanhope.

  The pauses in the speech also add to the dramatic tension because of the delays and the eagerness to find out what Osborne is going to say about Stanhope. Also it shows that Osborne doesn’t know how to describe Stanhope to Raleigh, and this gives the impression that Stanhope has a flaw that Osborne is finding hard to convey to Raleigh.

  The next scene I am going to compare is the one in which Stanhope first meets Raleigh and understands that Raleigh will be joining his company.

  The dramatic tension is created as soon as Stanhope enters the room, and as he takes his time to unpack and introduce himself to the audience, the tension builds and builds as the audience is really eager to see Stanhopes reaction to Raleigh. This tension stays throughout Stanhopes conversation with Trotter as the delay is increased.

  As Stanhope first sees Raleigh, the tension is slightly decreased but then quickly raised as Stanhopes reaction to Raleigh is:

“How did you – get here”

This reaction is incredibly unfriendly and not what the audience was expecting. Therefore the tension is built back up as we wish to learn why Stanhope is not happy to see Raleigh standing in the dug out. Stanhope is worried about Raleigh as he is a link back home and this alone could ruin what he has set up in the lack of home contact, in order to hide all his problems.

  The silences in the slightly broken conversation also add to the tension because each silence makes the audience more confident that Stanhope is not happy about Raleigh’s appearance.

Stanhope also uses very short sentences, these make him seem very snappy and unwilling to talk.

  The next part of the play I will evaluate is that on page 30 to 35 in which Osborne and Stanhope talk about Raleigh.

  The scene starts off with Stanhope and Osborne arguing about Raleigh and the tension is present as we as the audience do not know how badly Stanhope is going to react. We are unsure of whether or not Stanhope will yell at Osborne, or Raleigh, or let the whole thing pass smoothly.

  As I have said before, Stanhope is worried about Raleigh and the ties he has back home. The tension is very high at this point because we can see Stanhope feeling guilty and struggling to hide from Raleigh. We don’t know if Raleigh will work everything out or stay clueless. Also we are unsure of Raleigh’s loyalties.

  Stanhope feels incredibly guilty as he knows that he will upset people back home, and let them down.  But he also feels guilty in the sense that he is Raleigh’s hero. And he is secretly afraid of Raleigh’s judgement as Raleigh knows what Stanhope was like before, and therefore will notice a change in Stanhope easily. The tension stays high because we don’t know any ones reactions.

  The conversation is incredibly quick and snappy which keeps the audience more enthralled and makes them listen a lot more carefully in case they miss anything important. The language in this section is quite short and snappy, especially on Stanhopes part, which proves he is irritated and annoyed.  This can be shown in examples like this:

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“Stanhope – yes. Small boys at school do.”

“Osborne – Often it goes on as long as –“

“Stanhope – as long as the hero’s a hero.”

  The tension throughout this part is continuously raised and dropped. It drops when Osborne compliments Stanhope, for example:

“[Looking at the picture] she’s an awfully nice-looking girl.”

“Only [The Colonel] can’t spare you!”

  This puts the audience into a false sense of security that Stanhope will calm down and appreciate the comments that Osborne is making, however the tension rapidly raises again when Stanhope does not react ...

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