Osbourne – an old chap, everyone in the army respects him, they called him ‘Uncle’ because he is the most experienced among them. (I say, Stanhope, it’s a terrible business. We thought we’d got a tin of pineapple chunks; it turns out to be apricots. Act 1 Scene 3 P.18) from this quotation I can see that Osbourne has been being uncle. Osbourne also keep things under control and break tension, this can be shown when Stanhope is shouting to Raleigh, Osbourne says (Good heavens, Stanhope! Act 2 Scene 1 P.46)
Raleigh – a young boy used to very friend with Stanhope, he is shocked by the way Stanhope treats him (…you mustn’t expect to find him – quite the same. Act 1 Scene 2 P.13). Raleigh used to think Stanhope is a hero but not any more (………He looked at if I’d hit him between the eyes – as if I’d spat on him. Act 2 Scene 1 P.45) the relationship between them are getting really worse and Raleigh begins to see the truth.
Hibbert – a soldier who are as scared of death as every soldiers are, he’s desperate to get out of the war. He pretended he has neuralgia inside his eyes and couldn’t fight.
Trotter – a big fat soldier who loves to eat, he eats to decreases the tension of war. He treats food more serious than the war (……war’s bad enough with pepper – but war without pepper – it’s – it’s bloody awful! Act 1 Scene 2 P.20) because food can help him to forget about the thing happening out of the dugout.
Mason – a servant; the entrances of Mason are always related to the food and break the conversation and release the tension between the characters. For examples, in Act 1 Scene 2 P.18, when Stanhope, Osbourne, Trotter and Raleigh are having supper, Mason is called and comes in. This breaks the suspicious atmosphere between Stanhope and Raleigh.
German Prisoner – a young German soldier caught in the action. He is no one important. He is the same as every else is, he just come to war for duty.
All of the characters have the same common points: they are here because of duty; they are all feared of war and death. They are all forced to fight, but after the war is over the consequences is millions people are killed, people lost their home and parents, the lost their life they used to live with. I think R.C. Sheriff agrees the war is futile, in “Journey’s End” the British aimed to catch a German officer as prisoner and know what are the Germans planning, but eventually they could only got a German boy who couldn’t help at all, therefore R.C. Sheriff doesn’t want to show which side is going to win this war.
Most of the scenes in “Journey’s End”, I particularly think Act 2 Scene 1 P.46 is the most dramatic. In this Scene, Stanhope knows Raleigh has written a letter to home; Stanhope is so desperate to know what has he written in the letter, if Raleigh has criticized him. Stanhope forced Raleigh to give him the letter; the way he speaks builds tension in the conversation (Stanhope [in a quiet voice]: You leave it open). Raleigh rejected to do that. There is an argument between them. Raleigh, again makes Stanhope realizes his past and his changes during these few years (Don’t “Dennis” me! Stanhope’s my name! You’re not at school…………). Osbourne in here breaks the tension and keep things under control (Good heavens, Stanhope!). After Osbourne has read out the letter, Stanhope realizes that there is nothing mentioned about him in the letter, he feels guilty and sorry about Raleigh because the way he treat him.
Conclusion
In an interesting drama play, conflict is very important to it. The reason is that without conflicts the drama wouldn’t be exciting at all. Conflict can tell how is the atmosphere building between characters and scenes. The use of violence and the use of silence are also very important to the play as well.
The use of violence: the argument about the letter in Act 2 Scene 1 P.46-48. The violence builds up the tension between the relationships of the characters.
The use of silence: in any drama play, silence makes us feel the play is full of mystery. It also builds up more tension than violence does. In Act 2 Scene 2 P.55-56, Stanhope pointed his revolver to Hibbert because he wants to see the doctor about his neuralgia. While Stanhope is counting from fifteen (Stanhope [with his eyes on his watch]: Fifteen more seconds! Act 2 Scene 2 P.56) Audience would consider about Stanhope, whether he would shoot Hibbert for deserting.
