Analysis of "the machine gunners"
Book Review2009 The Machine Gunners Robert Westall’s The Machine Gunners has an exciting storyline but it is the aspects of the novel, such as its characters, themes and language, which captures and maintains the readers attention. Hence, the novel highlights the experiences and their effect upon juveniles in Britain during the Second World War. This is clearly seen through the novel’s protagonist, Chas, who goes through changes in his personality, thoughts and feelings as the experiences bring maturity. With the backdrop of the Second World War threatening over the entire novel, Westall is able to highlight the futility of war and the reality of human nature in war – as violence brings more violence. Set in London in 1940, The Machine Gunners tells the story of a group of teenagers growing up and learning the human cost of war and what it is really all about when they find a machine gun from a crashed German plane. Westall shows how the environment of war has a dramatic crash upon the lives of children. There is a rise of gang groups- each desiring to be the best gang. Consequently, there is violence where bullies control and their victims suffer. More importantly, parents are unable to do anything about the situation because they have lost control of their children. They remain ignorant to what is actually going on with their children. This is seen through Chas and his family’ s relationship, where Chas realizes his parents are helpless in the war and that they could not have done anything to help the war effort, “ He looked at his
father, and saw a weary, helpless middle- aged man. Dad wasn’t any kind of God any more.” This shows us Chas no longer looks up to his parents and does want to listen to them anymore; therefore it is clear that while the war against the Germans continues, a smaller war is being fought among the children; this clearly shows the wartime surroundings have taken an effect on the lives of teenagers, ‘This war’s doing bad things to kids.’ Chas and his group discover a German Machine gun along with 200 rounds of live bullets from a crashed Heinkel airplane. ...
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father, and saw a weary, helpless middle- aged man. Dad wasn’t any kind of God any more.” This shows us Chas no longer looks up to his parents and does want to listen to them anymore; therefore it is clear that while the war against the Germans continues, a smaller war is being fought among the children; this clearly shows the wartime surroundings have taken an effect on the lives of teenagers, ‘This war’s doing bad things to kids.’ Chas and his group discover a German Machine gun along with 200 rounds of live bullets from a crashed Heinkel airplane. Their wartime antipathy towards their enemy is shown by their desire to have a chance to take revenge on the Germans. A great sense of realism hits their wartime experiences when they capture a wounded German pilot, Rudi. Despite him being the enemy, they treat him well as their hostage, as they provide him with food and drink. However, the novel’s anti-war emotions are shown when a stronger relationship begins to grow over time between the group and Rudi. The initial language barrier is gradually overcome and there is now understanding between them. The boys get to know a lot more about Rudi- especially when he told them stories about his life. Consequently, the teenagers become very fond of him – ‘They didn’t feel like guards with a prisoner now. More like a class with a teacher, even a family. Especially the dark one.’ and so, the boys see another side to Rudi; he is no longer just their German prisoner but also human being. Despite the out of shape portrayal of the enemy in war- time misinformation, the teenagers are able to distinguish Rudi from British society’ s wicked stereotypes of the enemy, ‘He’s no sae proper Nazi’ and ‘He’s not a blond beast.’ Westall continues his anti- war message through Rudi’s unwillingness to escape from his imprisonment and return to his nation. It becomes obvious the impact of war has had an enormous influence on Rudi, as he realizes its uselessness and no longer has the motivation to fight like a soldier and for the his nation. He could not bear to harm the children, and his loyalty towards his Fatherland was dead – ‘Rudi felt part of the plot. Who was on whose side? Had he any loyalty left to the Germans? If he hadn’t been shot down, he’d be dead by now.’ Furthermore, Rudi realizes he could not return home because there was nothing left for him there – ‘At home, by now, he would be a dead hero.’ This emphasizes the antiwar theme, which is seen through this person that conveys that everyone is a human- being, no matter who they are or if they are the enemy. Enemies exist only in cases of fear and when there is no understanding between each other. The friendship between Rudi and the children shows that there is no need for war once there is understanding between each other. Another appealing aspect of The Machine Gunners is the bright portrayal of the characters, such as Chas and Rudi. Westall effectively shows just how realistic his characters are through their experiences, thoughts and feelings. Chas is a realistic character, an ordinary teenager experiencing the great changes and problems in growing up. His rather small – body size leaves him exposed to constant bullying at school and desperately wants to find a solution to this severe problem – ‘But what do you do if you’re small?’ He is outraged by the lack of justice in school because he feels helpless and vulnerable against the bullying at school. The constant suffering, pain and humiliation becomes so unbearable that Chas must seek justice through unorthodox ways, even if it meant breaking the rules, ‘All the hate of all the years, infant school, junior school, boiled up in him’. By retaliate all those years of being bullied; the irony of justice seems cruel to him, as he is lectured by the Headmaster for his actions. Chas expresses his anger and frustration because no one can understand the reasons behind his act of violence. He learns from his experience that the true aggressors are not always punished and victims often do not find support and sympathy. Chas finds he must become more tactful in looking for alternative ways to deal with his problems. Chas’ immense hatred is expressed by his determination and will which effectively resists Boddser’s revenge finally ends his suffering, by never surrendering to him and never showing his fear. Chas develops an inner strength and determination to resist Boddser’s bullying and pressure, and this is clearly shown in his motivation to retain the best collection of souvenirs, which include the machine gun. Furthermore, he shows resilience in resisting Boddser’s blackmail to reveal the location of machine gun – ‘Usually, by this time, kids were bubbling, begging for mercy, willing to do anything…’, ‘But McGill wasn’t like that. He just went on spitting out swear-words whenever he had the breath.’ Chas’ inner strength raises Boddser’s fears that he would never surrender to his suffering and a greater fear he might kill him – ‘There was no response. Boddser got to his feet, suddenly shaking, terrified. What had he done?’ and ‘McGill was up and gone, running now like a small muddy rat. Boddser roared with rage and pursued. Fooled again!’ in this experience Chas also learns that it is better to sometimes rely on others. Rudi’s realism in his character is shown by his inconsistent behavior and personality as a soldier. He expresses lack of motivation and potential in fighting like a soldier, and has a tendency to surrender for a warm meal – ‘Rabbit, I envy you,’ ‘Rabbits live longer than rear gunners.’ When Rudi is demanded to mend the machine gun he wanted to refuse. ‘It would be wrong to give children back a gun like that. Because they were still children.’ ‘In another way, they were no longer children.’ This expresses Rudi’s concern towards the children in using the machine gun, since he thought it was too dangerous for them. Furthermore, Rudi is a realistic character because he is caught between his duty to his country and his personal feelings. Overall I think Westall successfully expresses his novel to go beyond its good storyline. Not only are readers entertained, they experience what life was like for a teenager growing up in war- time London, while the world of adulthood was destroying itself in the war. And it is through the friendship with Rudi that Westall is able to bring out his anti- war themes, as Rudi no longer has the desire to fight in the war and Chas no longer sees adults as ‘heroes’. Mohammed Salman Rahman
