Sherriff's Journey's End brilliantly exposes the messy reality behind the... Show more
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Updated Mar 26, 2026
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Exploring Heroism and Cowardice in Journey’s End: A Detailed Essay Plan
mel
@mel.jane84
1 / 4
The Burden of Heroic Expectations
You'd think being called a hero would feel amazing, but Stanhope shows us the crushing weight of living up to that reputation. Despite winning the Military Cross for bravery and earning his men's genuine love, he's consumed by self-loathing and shame because he doesn't match the perfect officer ideal his public school education drilled into him.
The upper-class public school system essentially mass-produced officers for WWI, teaching boys they were naturally superior leaders responsible for their men's welfare. This creates impossible standards - Stanhope desperately clutches Raleigh's letter because he's terrified his girlfriend will discover his alcoholism and destroy his heroic image back home.
Sherriff uses lighting and staging to show Stanhope's shame - watch how he retreats to dark corners when feeling vulnerable. His obsession with hygiene and order isn't just about being posh; it's about maintaining control when everything else feels chaotic and deadly.
Remember: Stanhope's toxic masculinity and refusal to acknowledge trauma reflects real attitudes toward shell shock in 1916, when 80,000 cases were often dismissed as cowardice by higher-ranking officers.
The Reality of Fear and Coping
Here's the shocking truth Sherriff reveals: Stanhope and Hibbert aren't opposites - they're basically the same person. Both are terrified, but Stanhope chooses alcohol as his coping mechanism whilst Hibbert attempts to fake illness and escape.
Stanhope's brutal honesty cuts through the heroism myth: "I feel the same — exactly the same! Every little noise up there makes me feel just as you feel." The only real difference? Stanhope's willing to numb himself with drink to keep functioning, earning him the label of 'Dutch courage' - a term from earlier wars when soldiers relied on gin before battle.
Hibbert represents shell shock victims who were cruelly dismissed as "worms" trying to "wriggle home." Sherriff shows this is actually a natural human response to unnatural violence. The playwright heard from audience members whose sons were "Hibberts," proving how many families recognised this experience.
Key insight: Sherriff suggests that fear and self-preservation are normal, healthy human instincts - it's accepting the violence of war that's actually unnatural and dangerous.
The Price of True Heroism
The most genuinely heroic characters - Osborne and Raleigh - are precisely the ones who die. They don't rely on alcohol or escapism; instead, they maintain positive attitudes and do their duty. Ironically, this emotional stability makes them perfect candidates for the deadly raid that kills them.
Raleigh's transformation from hero-worshipping schoolboy to traumatised soldier shows heroism's brutal cost. After Osborne's pointless death, he's "walking as though he were asleep" - his innocence and naive patriotism completely shattered.
Working-class Trotter represents the massive social changes WWI triggered. His promotion to second-in-command shows how the traditional officer class was being dismantled. He hides his fear behind humour and practical coping strategies, like his famous chart of 144 circles to count down the hours.
Historical context: By war's end, over 900,000 British people had died and 2 million were injured - Sherriff presents his characters as representing all these lost lives, worthy of our loyalty and admiration regardless of their flaws.
Coping Mechanisms and Survival
Journey's End became a cathartic experience for 1928 audiences filled with veterans and families who finally saw their experiences represented honestly on stage. Some critics worried about corrupting younger generations with "whisky-guzzling officers," but most recognised the play's authentic portrayal.
Each character develops unique survival strategies: Stanhope drinks, Hibbert tries to escape, Trotter makes charts and jokes about food, whilst others find strength in duty, religion, or dark humour. Sherriff shows there's no "right" way to cope with trauma - just different methods of staying functional.
The play's structure mirrors the soldiers' experience of anticipation and dread. Just as Trotter's chart gives him small control over time's passage, the audience experiences the same ticking-bomb tension of waiting for the inevitable German attack.
Final thought: Sherriff revolutionised how we think about heroism and cowardice - showing they're not opposites but different responses to the same unbearable circumstances, making every survivor worthy of respect rather than judgment.
We thought you’d never ask...
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Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring Heroism and Cowardice in Journey’s End: A Detailed Essay Plan
mel
@mel.jane84
Sherriff's Journey's End brilliantly exposes the messy reality behind the glorified image of heroic soldiers in WWI. Rather than simple heroes or cowards, his characters reveal the complex ways men actually coped with unimaginable fear and pressure in the trenches.
The Burden of Heroic Expectations
You'd think being called a hero would feel amazing, but Stanhope shows us the crushing weight of living up to that reputation. Despite winning the Military Cross for bravery and earning his men's genuine love, he's consumed by self-loathing and shame because he doesn't match the perfect officer ideal his public school education drilled into him.
The upper-class public school system essentially mass-produced officers for WWI, teaching boys they were naturally superior leaders responsible for their men's welfare. This creates impossible standards - Stanhope desperately clutches Raleigh's letter because he's terrified his girlfriend will discover his alcoholism and destroy his heroic image back home.
Sherriff uses lighting and staging to show Stanhope's shame - watch how he retreats to dark corners when feeling vulnerable. His obsession with hygiene and order isn't just about being posh; it's about maintaining control when everything else feels chaotic and deadly.
Remember: Stanhope's toxic masculinity and refusal to acknowledge trauma reflects real attitudes toward shell shock in 1916, when 80,000 cases were often dismissed as cowardice by higher-ranking officers.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
The Reality of Fear and Coping
Here's the shocking truth Sherriff reveals: Stanhope and Hibbert aren't opposites - they're basically the same person. Both are terrified, but Stanhope chooses alcohol as his coping mechanism whilst Hibbert attempts to fake illness and escape.
Stanhope's brutal honesty cuts through the heroism myth: "I feel the same — exactly the same! Every little noise up there makes me feel just as you feel." The only real difference? Stanhope's willing to numb himself with drink to keep functioning, earning him the label of 'Dutch courage' - a term from earlier wars when soldiers relied on gin before battle.
Hibbert represents shell shock victims who were cruelly dismissed as "worms" trying to "wriggle home." Sherriff shows this is actually a natural human response to unnatural violence. The playwright heard from audience members whose sons were "Hibberts," proving how many families recognised this experience.
Key insight: Sherriff suggests that fear and self-preservation are normal, healthy human instincts - it's accepting the violence of war that's actually unnatural and dangerous.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
The Price of True Heroism
The most genuinely heroic characters - Osborne and Raleigh - are precisely the ones who die. They don't rely on alcohol or escapism; instead, they maintain positive attitudes and do their duty. Ironically, this emotional stability makes them perfect candidates for the deadly raid that kills them.
Raleigh's transformation from hero-worshipping schoolboy to traumatised soldier shows heroism's brutal cost. After Osborne's pointless death, he's "walking as though he were asleep" - his innocence and naive patriotism completely shattered.
Working-class Trotter represents the massive social changes WWI triggered. His promotion to second-in-command shows how the traditional officer class was being dismantled. He hides his fear behind humour and practical coping strategies, like his famous chart of 144 circles to count down the hours.
Historical context: By war's end, over 900,000 British people had died and 2 million were injured - Sherriff presents his characters as representing all these lost lives, worthy of our loyalty and admiration regardless of their flaws.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Coping Mechanisms and Survival
Journey's End became a cathartic experience for 1928 audiences filled with veterans and families who finally saw their experiences represented honestly on stage. Some critics worried about corrupting younger generations with "whisky-guzzling officers," but most recognised the play's authentic portrayal.
Each character develops unique survival strategies: Stanhope drinks, Hibbert tries to escape, Trotter makes charts and jokes about food, whilst others find strength in duty, religion, or dark humour. Sherriff shows there's no "right" way to cope with trauma - just different methods of staying functional.
The play's structure mirrors the soldiers' experience of anticipation and dread. Just as Trotter's chart gives him small control over time's passage, the audience experiences the same ticking-bomb tension of waiting for the inevitable German attack.
Final thought: Sherriff revolutionised how we think about heroism and cowardice - showing they're not opposites but different responses to the same unbearable circumstances, making every survivor worthy of respect rather than judgment.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: The Things They Carried
Most popular content in English Literature
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.6/5
App Store
4.7/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user