Private Peaceful Themes Analysis Essay Example

Michael Morpurgo authored an extraordinary novel titled “Private Peaceful.” It is about two young fellow named Tommo and Charlie who have fallen for the same girl, but the girl “Molly” decided to be with Charlie since he was older, which they ended up getting married. Tommo and Charlie were off to war to fight against the Germans. Some main themes in Private Peaceful are Love, war, and death. 

In Private Peaceful, Tommo’s love for Molly was a wealth, as it assisted him going into war. Tommo always tried to be with Molly as he had feelings for her, but ever since he had found out Charlie had made Molly pregnant, he realized Molly did not feel the same way about him. Tommo released his emotions on Molly when he roared at her saying “Who would you rather I look after, Molly. All of you at home who can perfectly well look after yourselves? Or Charlie, who is always getting himself into nasty scrapes, even at home.” This also suggests that Tommo’s trying to convince his family to let him go to war, so he can be away from Molly. This shows Tommo’s love for Molly made him furious enough for him to try and be away from Molly by going to war. 

Another important theme of Private Peaceful is war, as the Peaceful family’s house is on the line if they do not fight in the war. Molly said in distress “It is the Colonel. He came in and told your mother this morning. He told us that the war was going badly for us, that the country was crying out for men, and able-bodied man who lives or works in the estate to go off and volunteer, or else they will not work or live here anymore.” This suggests that without Charlie going to war in France the colonel would make the Peaceful family homeless. This shows that the war has made it exceedingly difficult for the Peaceful, which is why it is one of the main themes.

Lastly, another theme is Death, this shown when Tommo’s father had died saving Tommo from the tree falling on him and when Sergeant Hanley had killed Charlie. Tommo blames himself for being “Clumsy.” Tommo guilts himself by sobbing “I have killed my father” this shows that the father’s death was undeniably tragic for Tommo and his family, which it also almost makes them homeless since Tommo’s father is not there anymore so he  cannot work for the colonel. Tommo also experienced the tragic loss of his beloved brother Charlie Peaceful, “Six men, their rifles loaded and ready, each one only wanting to get it over with.” This shows the men that have been commanded  by Sergeant Hanley to get ready and execute Charlie Peaceful. “They will be shooting one of their own, and it feels to them like murder.” This suggests that they do not want to execute him, but the death of Charlie will be joyful to Sergeant Hanley. This all shows that tragic death in the family affected everyone which is why it is one of the main themes of Private Peaceful.

In conclusion, love, war, and death have been especially important and significant to the novel. Love made the family break apart as Charlie and Tommo had to go and be away from their family, war had changed the Colonel perspective on the family and had to be harsh which as a result Charlie got executed in France, and death of James Peaceful (Tommo’s father) which forced Tommo’s and Charlie’s Mother too work for the Colonel , and Charlie Peaceful death as now Molly did not have a husband to be their for her and the baby. The Palaceful’s love for each other through tough and challenging times as it you are never alone; this can inspire other friends and family’s to always be there for each other. This idea reflects the authors message that love is important.