Page 2: Journey's End Synopsis

This page provides a synopsis of the play and its historical context:

"Journey's End," first produced in 1928, offers a stark portrayal of life in the trenches during World War I. The play centers on Captain Stanhope, a young commander in his early 20s, leading an infantry company against the Germans in France in 1918. Stanhope, deeply affected by the horrors of war, has turned to heavy drinking to cope with his experiences.

The arrival of Lieutenant Raleigh, a naive and enthusiastic 18-year-old who idolizes Stanhope from their shared past, creates tension as Stanhope's memories collide with his harsh present reality. The play weaves together Stanhope's struggle for sanity with the experiences of other officers, providing a bitter commentary on the psychological effects of war.

Context: Written and performed a decade after World War I, the play resonated deeply with audiences still mourning losses or dealing with the war's aftermath. Set in the days leading up to the German Spring Offensive of 1918, many audience members would have been acutely aware of the impending historical events at St Quentin on March 21st.

Highlight: "Journey's End" provides a brutally honest insight into the psychological toll of trench warfare, with themes and relationships that continue to resonate with modern audiences.

Quote: Stanhope drinks copious amounts of whiskey so that he does not "go mad with fright."

Page 4: Additional Characters and Context

This page continues the character descriptions and adds more context:

Second Lieutenant Hibbert: A junior officer in C Company who claims to be suffering from severe neuralgia. Stanhope suspects Hibbert is feigning illness to escape the front lines and spend the rest of the war in a hospital.

The Colonel: Stanhope's superior officer, who appears more concerned with pleasing his own superiors than protecting the lives of soldiers in action.

Definition: Neuralgia - A sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve.

Highlight: The characters in "Journey's End" represent various attitudes towards war, from Raleigh's youthful enthusiasm to Hibbert's apparent attempt to escape, showcasing the diverse psychological impacts of trench warfare.

Example: The contrast between Stanhope's heavy drinking as a coping mechanism and Osborne's calm, levelheaded approach illustrates the different ways soldiers dealt with the stress of war.