Summary Of Journey's End By RC Sheriff

R.C Sheriff successfully describes the horrific effects of war on different soldiers

“Journey’s End” is a fascinating play written in the twentieth century by R.C. Sherriff. R.C. Sherriff, served in the east survey regiment during world war one; this play he wrote describes how it felt like being a part of the war and how it may have changed soldiers. He used a lot of examples, such as; Stanhope, who was the leader of the company, Hibbert, who is terrified of war and young Raleigh, who gets excited for being sent to war especially after knowing that he would be serving in the same company his hero Stanhope serves in. This essay will show how R.C. Sherriff successfully manages to describe the horrific effects of war on those characters.

Stanhope, who was the commander of the company, is our first character. Stanhope joined army as a youngster who just finished school. He was described as the “best company commander we’ve got” by Officer Osborne, who had great faith in Stanhope and supported him immeasurably. A young Stanhope used to strongly dislike alcohol, he once “caught some chaps” in a school study with a “bottle of whisky,” because of how strong his hatred towards alcohol is, he “gave them a dozen each with a cricket stump.” However, Stanhope disliking alcohol didn’t last long after joining the army and experiencing tragedies. The importance of alcohol to him after joining the army was compared to the importance of water to fishes by some of his mates. As an officer asks “how is the dear young boy?” referring to Stanhope “Drinking like a fish as usual?” Thus, it’s an exaggeration to show that Stanhope can’t live without alcohol, just like a fish can’t live without water. “I’ve never seen a youngster put away the whisky he does.” Is another quote to show that Stanhope is extremely addicted to whisky. Later in the play, Stanhope says that he wants his family back home to think that he is “a fine fellow for ever – and ever – and ever.” This explains why he didn’t visit home on his leave because “he didn’t think he was fit to meet papa” said one of the officers. He didn’t want his family to sense that aspect of his.
Another character who has definitely changed during war was Raleigh.

He was first described as a “Well-built, healthy looking boy of about eighteen.” Raleigh was a thrilled young soldier, full of passion and excitement. However, after his first catastrophe; the dreadful death of Osborne, all Raleigh’s passion and glorious ideas vanished into non-existence since then, just as his interesting conversation with Stanhope suggests “Good God! Don’t you understand? How can I sit down and eat that- when – when Osborne’s – lying – out there” Raleigh refuses to eat his dinner because he feels depressed for the death of Osborne. He changed from the passionate, excited soldier, to the depressed soldier right after experiencing the first tragedy war has

created.
Also, another character has changed, who is called Hibbert.

He is introduced being a young “slightly built man in the early twenties, with a little moustache and a pallid face.” He would’ve without any doubt make readers question themselves, “is he a hero?” or “is he a coward?” Hibbert is a coward to most readers because he fabricated sickness. The sickness he pretended to have was the “beastly neuralgia” that “seems to be right inside this eye. The beastly pain gets worse every day.” He explains. Hibbert also refuses to eat as he claims that “the pain rather takes my appetite away.” Stanhope analyzes as “he could eat if he wanted to; he’s starving himself purposely.” What makes people think he is a coward is that he would rather get shot by Stanhope than going to war fields and fighting with other soldiers. As this mysterious quote of his shows “Go on, then shoot! You won’t let me go to hospital. I swear I I’ll never go into those trenches again. Shoot!” which indicates that, Hibbert is frightened from the hidden miseries more than he is frightened from the known. Besides, he makes a perfect contrast to Stanhope, who drinks to forget all his fears. On the other hand, Hibbert allows his fears to take over his acts, like when he feigned sickness as a way to run away from

war.
To conclude, I think that R.C. Sheriff creates an idea to the reader of how war can change people a hundred and eighty degrees. For instance, Stanhope changed from being a hater to alcohol to being a very strong alcoholic. Raleigh changed from the passionate, excited soldier, to the depressed soldier right after experiencing the first tragedy war has created. Hibbert didn’t even dare to face his fears and try to play a role in war. Rather, he pretended to have the beastly neuralgia, just to stay away from war fields. The beauty of Journey’s End is that it was written by someone who was a part of the war; therefore, everything he has written was from his experience which makes the play even more interesting.