R.C Sheriff’s Message in Journeys End Essay - 1022 Words

R.C Sheriff’s Message in Journeys End ‘Journey’s End’ is a play written by R.C Sheriff. It is written based on the author’s own experiences during WW1. The play is set in trench warfare in 1918, but was written in 1928 which was the 10 year anniversary of the Armistice (the agreement to end the war). Britain declared war on Germany in August of 1914 and the mood in Britain was one of heroic optimism. Millions of young men enlisted in the army with the firm belief that they’d be home for Christmas; but World War 1 lasted for four years. By Christmas 1914, millions of men were dug into trenches in France either side of no-mans land. Thousands of men died. ‘Journey’s End’ is an anti-war play written by Sheriff to try and†¦show more content†¦It is very thrilling, yet at the same time, it is very emotive. The audience in 1928 would have recognised Hibbert as a deserter and their pity for him would be reduced, yet at the same time they would possibly have sympathy, as they would now realise what war has done to Hibbert, and he cant take any more waiting to see if he will die, and he is even prepared to be shot rather than go over the top and risk being killed by the Germans. This shows how desperate the soldiers were to escape the war and how terrible it was for them if they’d rather die than go out into the warfare. Another dramatically tense moment in the play is when Osborne and Raleigh have been chosen to go over the top to raid the German trench for a prisoner. Raleigh as usual is in high spirits and is very excited about the attack. Osborne however is more understanding to the situation and does not underestimate the task ahead. He leaves his ring behind †¦in case anything should happen so that Stanhope can pass it on to his wife. The audience would feel very uneasy now realising the true danger that the men face and the fact that they might not return. It also shows that the men are nervous by their idle conversation about very trivial things: Dyou like coffee better than tea I do for breakfast. The audience has already learned that the operation is very dangerous as Stanhope told the Colonel The Boche are sitting over there with a dozen