Journey's End Literary Analysis Essay

Journey’s End is a play, written by R.C. Sherriff. It tells a story of men on the front line during World War 1. Journey’s End shows us the real tragedy and devastation of war, leading to the change and loss of the people, and who they used to be. The story is set in a dugout, over the course of three days. These three days on the front line show us a true insight on the reality behind the tales, that heroes and villains are one and the same, and that minds and the human psyche can be altered and manipulated by the utter tribulation of war. A major and important theme about Journey’s End is the horror and destruction of war and its effects on people. War changes people, and not for the better.

The main protagonist of Journey's End is Captain Stanhope. He is a perfect example of the destructive nature of war. Before the war, Stanhope is portrayed as a good man, a compassionate man. He was head-boy, a wonderful role model, adored by friends and family, captain of the rugby team and had a vigorously healthy mindset. Sherriff creates Stanhope to be this way to show us his backstory and experience, the way he truly knows how to live. When we enter the story, Stanhope had been in the war for around three years, enlisting at the fresh, young age of 18. Straight out of school, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed boy had the brave idea to fight for his country. As the son of a vicar, Stanhope’s morals and principles while growing up were presumably very high and honourable. While this may be the case, the Captain Stanhope that we are introduced to is nowhere near the man we have believed him to be. This version of Stanhope is notorious for being an avid drinker, always “drinking like a fish”. He is known to the other men as somewhat of a circus clown, entertaining their need to see a ‘drunk man dance’. The contrast of two completely different people being described is astronomical. The once kind and upstanding young boy has turned into a tired, drunken fool.

Stanhope is not a man made for war, but in all honesty; will there ever be a human being already broken enough to progress through war without the impacts and repercussions affecting their state of existence? His use of alcoholism to cope is a problem. He is an addict. The only thing keeping him from breaking down is whiskey. He has been such a regular consumer that he is completely dependent on it. If we look at the perspective of young Stanhope, this is very out of character. There is a scene where he finds boys from school sneaking a drink of alcohol while being underage. Stanhope becomes furious and punishes them for what they did. This shows Stanhope’s morals about what is right and wrong. 

A young officer named Raleigh enters the story. He is a friend of Stanhope’s from back home and at school. Raleigh knows who Stanhope used to be, but as he is transferred to Stanhope’s company, he will soon realize the changes that have occurred. Stanhope is almost unrecognizable to Raleigh. The youthful and innocent Raleigh is a character created by R.C. Sherriff to show the pain of younger Stanhope, being reflected by Raleigh, had to go through to end up as present day Stanhope. The juxtaposition of Raleigh’s and Stanhope’s characters defines the horror and destruction of war. Even the descriptions of them are enough. Raleigh; “a well-built, healthy looking boy”. Stanhope; “although tanned by months of open air, there is a pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes”. Stanhope is tired. Tired of being frightened every day. Tired of trying to be brave. Tired of drugging himself just to digress from war to hell, hell to war.