Act 1 Journeys End
What is the function of ‘Act 1’ In ‘Journeys End?’
After reading ‘Act 1’, we instantly get given a slight insight on some of the horrendous conditions of war, which is something you do initially expect to entice before reading a war play.
It plays a role of developing audiences feelings and expectations by aspects such as stage directions, the setting, sounds and lighting giving you a deeper depth of realisation of how men really lived in the trenches, how they really acted and how they really behaved rather than a previous apprehension of heroic men gaining an easy victory, both physically, emotionally and mentally.
I feel another of the main functions of ‘Act 1’ is to portray and individualise each of the main characters personalities and traits. Hardy, ’a red-faced, cheerful looking man’ starts the play by singing and humming, ‘finishing with a lively burst’, whilst carrying out one of his duties. This automatically informs you he is one of the more cheerful, uplifting soldiers which is something extremely helpful during a horrific period such as World War 1.
He is interrupted by the entrance of Osborne, ’physically as hard as nails’ who expresses a more serious, responsible personality being a much more experienced officer. He seems more aware of the realities of the war situation. However throughout the play, the other soldiers call him ’Uncle’ suggesting that they see him as a family figure and can confide in him if necessary, demonstrated by Mason, who also approaches him about the fiasco with the apricot and pineapple mix up rather than Stanhope. Osborne illustrates a very close relationship towards Stanhope and remains loyal throughout. Whilst most of the other men are joking and criticising Stanhope’s drinking problem, Osborne continuously defends him and repeatedly gives him praise: ’Stanhope goes on sticking it, month in, month out’, ’He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got’, ’He’ll command the battalion one day..‘ He also
After reading ‘Act 1’, we instantly get given a slight insight on some of the horrendous conditions of war, which is something you do initially expect to entice before reading a war play.
It plays a role of developing audiences feelings and expectations by aspects such as stage directions, the setting, sounds and lighting giving you a deeper depth of realisation of how men really lived in the trenches, how they really acted and how they really behaved rather than a previous apprehension of heroic men gaining an easy victory, both physically, emotionally and mentally.
I feel another of the main functions of ‘Act 1’ is to portray and individualise each of the main characters personalities and traits. Hardy, ’a red-faced, cheerful looking man’ starts the play by singing and humming, ‘finishing with a lively burst’, whilst carrying out one of his duties. This automatically informs you he is one of the more cheerful, uplifting soldiers which is something extremely helpful during a horrific period such as World War 1.
He is interrupted by the entrance of Osborne, ’physically as hard as nails’ who expresses a more serious, responsible personality being a much more experienced officer. He seems more aware of the realities of the war situation. However throughout the play, the other soldiers call him ’Uncle’ suggesting that they see him as a family figure and can confide in him if necessary, demonstrated by Mason, who also approaches him about the fiasco with the apricot and pineapple mix up rather than Stanhope. Osborne illustrates a very close relationship towards Stanhope and remains loyal throughout. Whilst most of the other men are joking and criticising Stanhope’s drinking problem, Osborne continuously defends him and repeatedly gives him praise: ’Stanhope goes on sticking it, month in, month out’, ’He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got’, ’He’ll command the battalion one day..‘ He also