chloe
Rivers Journal entries detailing his changing position on the war, his patients and his personal role in both.
Siegfried Sassoons arrival
A young man called Siegfried Sassoon arrived at Craiglockhart today, the man that I had my reservations towards; doubting that he is shell shocked and that he was really just a ‘coward’ trying to escape fighting. Why would a man throw away his medal for saving life? It appeared to me at first that he was troubled when reading his report. I decided to evaluate the mental state of Sassoon over tea. I had a rather pleasant conversation with him, he believed that the medical board is rigged and that
Sassoon has arrived at the hospital, he meets with Rivers to talk over tea. Having tea gives Rivers a chance to evaluate the mental state of his patient. The two men have a pleasant conversation. Sassoon tells Rivers that the medical board has been rigged; the decision to send him to a mental hospital was made before the Board even evaluated him. It is easier for the Board to pass his letter off as madness rather than admit that it represents a valid charge against the government. Sassoon admits that he does not have any religious reason for opposing the war; he is merely horrified at the senseless brutality of it.
Sassoon tells Rivers about some of his hallucinations about corpses, and about some of the things he was asked to do in the war. He admits that he no longer hates the Germans. Rather, he hates the complacent civilians at home who allow the war to go on, completely blind to the atrocities it entails. Sassoon asks Rivers if he thinks that he is mad; Rivers replies no, of course not. Nevertheless, Rivers informs Sassoon that he cannot be impartial; as a psychiatrist in the mental hospital, it is his duty to convince Sassoon to return to the war.
Siegfried Sassoons arrival
A young man called Siegfried Sassoon arrived at Craiglockhart today, the man that I had my reservations towards; doubting that he is shell shocked and that he was really just a ‘coward’ trying to escape fighting. Why would a man throw away his medal for saving life? It appeared to me at first that he was troubled when reading his report. I decided to evaluate the mental state of Sassoon over tea. I had a rather pleasant conversation with him, he believed that the medical board is rigged and that
Sassoon has arrived at the hospital, he meets with Rivers to talk over tea. Having tea gives Rivers a chance to evaluate the mental state of his patient. The two men have a pleasant conversation. Sassoon tells Rivers that the medical board has been rigged; the decision to send him to a mental hospital was made before the Board even evaluated him. It is easier for the Board to pass his letter off as madness rather than admit that it represents a valid charge against the government. Sassoon admits that he does not have any religious reason for opposing the war; he is merely horrified at the senseless brutality of it.
Sassoon tells Rivers about some of his hallucinations about corpses, and about some of the things he was asked to do in the war. He admits that he no longer hates the Germans. Rather, he hates the complacent civilians at home who allow the war to go on, completely blind to the atrocities it entails. Sassoon asks Rivers if he thinks that he is mad; Rivers replies no, of course not. Nevertheless, Rivers informs Sassoon that he cannot be impartial; as a psychiatrist in the mental hospital, it is his duty to convince Sassoon to return to the war.