How is John Hilliard's character developed, in the novel "Strange Meeting" by Susan Hill?

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How is John Hilliard’s character developed, in the novel Strange Meeting, by Susan Hill?

Most of Hill’s novels explore the details of the relationship shared between people.  The setting of The Great War allows Hill to present the story of how relationships are created between people in tragic situations.  Strange Meeting is a story about an officer, called Hilliard, who discovers love in the midst of the desolation of the Great War. Hilliard is the ideal protagonist to present a change of character when portraying themes of love, friendship and loneliness; he is like a blank canvas, therefore the reader is able to observe how Hilliard’s character changes through Hill’s use of form structure and language. Hilliard is a lonely and reserved before he meets Barton. When he returns to the western front in 1916, he undergoes a change from his original reserved to character to a more open character. This change is due to the influence of Barton, an officer he meets on his return to the front. Strange Meeting also addresses socio –historic ideologies during the period of the Great War, ideologies such as conservatism, liberalism and realism are explored in Strange Meeting.

Hilliard’s reserved character is a product of the lack of sentiment he had in his childhood, although, Hilliard becomes more open and sentimental because of his meeting with Barton.

“He had been born here. The windows were tall and blank. It meant nothing to him.”

”His room seemed once again as if it no longer belonged to him, the bed stripped, the top of the dressing table empty.”

 Hilliard has no sentiment towards his home in Hawton. The windows are described as “tall and blank.” The image of the tall windows symbolises the Bourgeois outlook of Hilliard’s family. Hilliard’s feeling towards the windows, which is a metonym for his home, mirrors Hilliard’s feelings towards his family. Hill creates an unemotional aura when she is describing Hawton. The strip beds and the emptiness dressing table reflect the emptiness of sentiment in Hawton. Then Hilliard goes as far as stating that he is a stranger in his own home. His statement completely removes him from any attachment to Hawton. The lack of sentiment Hilliard has for his family is due to the behavioural structure of British society in the early 20th century. Hilliard’s reserve is a product of his upbringing and his reserve is also a product of the expectations of British high society. Albeit, the language used to present the rest camp, the place where Hilliard meets Barton, is more beautiful and emotive.

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“The early mornings were beautiful”

“There was nothing in particular to remember. And everything.”

“A breeze came from somewhere rustling behind them, rustling the willow leaves like silk.”

Hill uses scenic natural forms as a backdrop to Hilliard’s meeting with Barton to create a sense of easiness, and more importantly she creates a sense of change. Hill creates a romantic scene as she describes the “willow trees” and the beautiful “mornings.” She introduces romanticism into the novel in the rest camp. As a result of this an external sense of sentiment; which does not come from Hilliard, ...

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