In "Journey's end" RC Sheriff shows a variety of ways in which the characters behave as they face stress and horror of trench warfare.

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In “Journey’s end” RC Sheriff shows a variety of ways in which the characters behave as they face stress and horror of trench warfare.

“Journey's End” was written by R.C Sheriff. It was written ten years after the end of the First World War (1928).

Sherriff, was injured during action in World War 1 and therefore got a ticket home. Sherriff was trying to raise money for a new boat club and so decided to write this play and perform it. The other club members refused to act out this play because it was too like the World War. Men would not like to talk about war because of horrific encounters they had and they did not wish their wives to know the truth.

The First World War gave different reactions in the people affected by it, particularly the soldiers, which Sherriff explores at great detail in "Journey's End". He uses Hibbert (a young officer that had been at war for roughly 6months) to show the way in which some soldiers reacted. The way Hibbert is seen to react is frowned upon by all others, and then presents the opposite view, Stanhope, who, despite being the stereotypical 'perfect' soldier, still has his moments of fear and self-doubt.

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Although clearly, both the officers and the men involved in World War I lived in awfully hard conditions. The men refer to the poor food, the rough sleeping conditions and also the rats, of which there are "about two million", according to Hardy (a character appearing at the start of the play). There is also a frequent routine of rifle inspections, patrols, raids and duty in early hours of the morning meaning many of the soldiers suffered from sleep deprivation. The men also have to cope with the fear of death.

In the background, there is a constant rumble ...

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