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- Journey's End: themes and context
Journey's End: themes and context
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Sherriff fought in the First World War. His play shows the courage and damage of ordinary officers.
Context
Sherriff served as an officer in the East Surrey Regiment and was wounded at Passchendaele in 1917.
The play was first performed in 1928, with Laurence Olivier as Stanhope.
It is set before the German Spring Offensive of 21 March 1918.
The play was first performed in 1928, with Laurence Olivier as Stanhope.
It is set before the German Spring Offensive of 21 March 1918.
Key themes
Heroism: courage means facing fear, not having none.
The effects of war: stress, alcohol, fear and loss.
Class: Trotter, from a lower class, contrasts with public-school officers.
Friendship and duty: the men hold together under pressure.
The effects of war: stress, alcohol, fear and loss.
Class: Trotter, from a lower class, contrasts with public-school officers.
Friendship and duty: the men hold together under pressure.
Time and tension
The waiting builds tension: everyone knows the attack is coming.
The enclosed dugout and the sounds of war offstage make the audience feel trapped.
The enclosed dugout and the sounds of war offstage make the audience feel trapped.
Why does Sherriff set the play in a single dugout?
- The audience is trapped with the officers.
- It builds claustrophobia and tension.
- We sense the danger outside without seeing the battle.
Answer: To create claustrophobic tension and make the audience share the officers' trapped feelings.
Context: Sherriff's own service, Passchendaele, first performed 1928, set before 21 March 1918. Themes: heroism, effects of war, class, friendship and duty, and tension.
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