R.C. Sherriffs Journeys End :: R. C. Sherriff Journeys End Essays

R.C. Sherriffs Journeys EndSet on the Western Front, Journeys End is based on R C Sherriffsexperiences as anOfficer in the trenches of the First manhood struggle. It was the first warplay to look at the reality of the daylight to day life of soldiers. Priorto Journeys End, plays any demonised the enemy, and focused ondeeds of heroism, or preached the futility of war.This play was one of a number of literary works, produced or so 10years after the expiry of the war, which showed the horror of war bylooking at the mens day to day lives. These included Undertones ofWar by Edmund Blunden, Goodbye to altogether That by Robert Graves, AllQuiet on The Western Front by Remarque, Her Privates We by FredericManning and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon.In a Journeys End, the horror of war is often shown in thesubtext, of the soldiers conversations, not by the direct actions ofthe men.Although in the first instance it was rejected by field of operation managers,the pla y went on to strike a chord with the public and had a two yearrun in London. They responded to the play because it showed them, forthe first time, the timidity and squalor that the men faced continuallyand how they dealt with it.Extract 1 (Pages 1-4) gives the audience the opportunity to understandthe terrible conditions in which the characters lived. The charactersengage in biting banter as they can not afford to give into their truthful feelings towards the situation. Everyone does what they can tokeep each others spirits up.The Director would choose to fire the horror of the mens situationin the way that he sets the stage. The setting is a dug out in atrench during World War I. A depressing mood and claustrophobicatmosphere needs to be created by this set and the lighting. Thebeds, table and stalls need to be on top of each other, rotten wood,the occasional sound of dripping urine and a muddy floor areessential. Bottles, glasses and papers need to be piled high on thesmall table.The dugout should be sickly lit, by a candle or oil lamp. The sky,visible with the door, needs to be bright. The contrast betweenlight and dark represents the soldiers sweat versus the worldthat they knew before the war.If the characters had the choice they would not talk about goal andsqualor, however it is the stuff of their daily lives. They getaround talking about the subject but using light hearted banter.