Journey’s End Scene Summary: Act 1.
Conversation between Osborne and Hardy about the handing over of the trench. Hardy mentions Stanhope and his drinking. Osborne defends Stanhope and explains the reason why Stanhope is like the way he is. Osborne also states that Stanhope is really good at his job: ‘There isn’t a man to touch him as a commander of men.” Hardy mentions to Osborne about “…the big attack.” Before he leaves. Raleigh arrives and he is nervous. Osborne and Raleigh talk for a bit and Raleigh reveals that he knows Stanhope. Osborne and Raleigh continue to talk and Osborne mentions that it is a: “…big fluke…” for Raleigh to of ended up in the same company as Stanhope. Raleigh tells Osborne that he spoke to his uncle who is in charge of sending officers to regiments and asked that he was put in the same regiment as Stanhope. Raleigh explains that his uncle shouted at him for asking him to do something like that and that Raleigh should: “…be treated like everybody else – “ Raleigh also tells Osborne that he has a message for Stanhope from his sister who, although they aren’t “officially engaged”, are going out together. We are also introduced to Mason the Officer’s Cook who has been given the wrong tin of fruit and is worried about Stanhope’s reaction. Stanhope appears and doesn’t seem too impressed by Raleigh’s arrival. He greets Raleigh with a rather cold: “How did you – get here?” Stanhope is slightly suspicious as to how Raleigh got into the company and he states that it is: “Rather a coincidence.” The Officers have a meal and we are told that there is no pepper. Someone is sent to get pepper. Trotter provides us with some humour about the “…cutlet…” Stanhope sends Trotter and Raleigh on duty together. Hibbert returns from duty and the audience learn that he is allegedly suffering from something called: “Neuralgia”. Stanhope dismisses this claim as he believes that Hibbert is trying to get sent home. Stanhope confides in Osborne about how is feeling regarding Raleigh’s arrival. He is worried that Raleigh will write to his sister and tell her about Stanhope. Stanhope states that he will read Raleigh’s letter and “…cross out all he says about me.” At the end of the scene Stanhope is drunk and Osborne puts him to bed. Act 2 Scene 1.
Begins in the morning. Trotter is eating breakfast and makes some remark about the breakfast and the fact that Mason has washed the pots. Trotter and Osborne discuss life before the war. Both Trotter and Osborne used to garden. Osborne tells Raleigh about his past life (Osborne used to be a teacher) Osborne also tells Raleigh that he once played rugby for England “…on one great occasion.” Despite the enormous achievement Osborne doesn’t brag about it. Osborne tells Raleigh the story of a time when a German officer allowed the English soldiers to rescue a wounded man. Osborne says that the next day that they: “…blew each other’s trenches to blazes.” Raleigh comments that: “It all seems rather – silly, doesn’t it?” Raleigh asks Osborne how he goes about sending a letter back home. Raleigh goes on duty. Stanhope asks Osborne what Raleigh is doing. Osborne tells him that he is finishing off a letter. Stanhope is still determined to censor his letter.
Osborne questions Stanhope about his treatment of Raleigh: “Why can’t you treat him like any other youngster?” Raleigh returns and asks where to put his letter. Stanhope tells him that he must leave it open as he must censor all letters. Raleigh is shocked by this and tells Stanhope that he will not bother sending the letter. Stanhope is angry at Raleigh’s refusal to give him the letter. They exchange words and eventually he gives Stanhope the letter and goes on duty. Stanhope cannot bring himself to read it. Osborne reads it for him. The letter has nothing but praise for him. Act 2 scene 2. Stanhope gives orders to the sergeant major about what will happen when the attack comes. His order is that his company will stick it out. The sergeant major questions Stanhope as to what will happen if the Germans get through. Stanhope explains that his company will remain even if the others do not. The colonel arrives and discusses the raid with Stanhope. Stanhope asks if the colonel would like him to go but the colonel says no. The colonel instead suggests Osborne and Raleigh go. After the colonel has delivered the news about the raid Stanhope has a confrontation with Hibbert about Hibbert’s desire to see the Doctor. Stanhope threatens to shoot Hibbert and make it look like an accident. Eventually the confrontation ends and Stanhope confides in Hibbert that he also feels the same way. Raleigh and Osborne find out about the raid. Raleigh describes the event as: “…frightfully exciting!” Act 3 scene 1. Stanhope and the colonel talk about the raid. Stanhope questions why the raid is taking place since the shelling only managed to blow one hole in the enemy line which means the Germans know where the raid will happen. Osborne gives Stanhope some personal belongings in case he doesn’t make it back. Before the raid Osborne and Raleigh talk. Osborne directs the subject away from the impending raid and instead discusses life before the war. The raid finishes and they return with one German. He is questioned and information is taken from him. Osborne is dead. Raleigh is a little shaken up and accidently sits on Osborne’s bed. Stanhope is angered by this. Act 3 scene 2.
Stanhope is sat around a table smoking cigars and drinking. They are telling jokes. Raleigh is not present. Raleigh told Hibbert he liked being up top with the other men rather than being with the other officers. Trotter raises the subject of the raid and Stanhope shouts at him for bringing up the war. Stanhope tells Hibbert that he should go to bed. Hibbert tells Stanhope that he should go to bed. Stanhope reacts furiously to this. Trotter goes on duty and Raleigh comes down. Raleigh explains to Stanhope that he has already had something to eat with the soldiers up top. Stanhope is angry at Raleigh’s refusal to come to eat with the other officers. Stanhope tells Raleigh that he must eat his dinner. Raleigh refuses. He cannot eat it because he feels terrible about Osborne. Stanhope is offended by this as he himself misses Osborne more than anyone. Act 3 scene 3.
The scene begins near dawn at around 5:30am. Stanhope is woken up by Mason. Trotter is already awake and appears to be in high spirit. He is singing a song. Raleigh and Hibbert are getting dressed. Stanhope instructs the sergeant major to let the soldiers have ‘…decent drop of rum.’ In their tea.
There is a faint noise of gunfire and shells. They begin to get nearer. Raleigh and Trotter go on duty. Hibbert is hanging back. Stanhope accuses Hibbert of: ‘…wasting as much time as you can.’ Stanhope instructs Hibber to take Mason up. The fighting intensifies and Stanhope is informed that Corporal Ross has been hit. There is a call for a stretcher bearer this time it is for Raleigh. Stanhope orders that Raleigh is brought down to the officer’s trench. Raleigh is fatally wounded but Stanhope doesn’t tell him. He comforts him until the end. A soldier appears and delivers a message from Trotter asking for Stanhope to come up top. Stanhope doesn’t answer at first but eventually tells the soldier he is coming. The trench is hit and caves in. Characters: Stanhope: strict, dutiful, strained, experienced and hardened. Captain Stanhope is the son of a vicar and commander of C Company. He is first introduced through Hardy and Osborne’s conversation at the start of the play. The first impression we gain of him is of a heavy drinker – ‘a freak show’ but someone who commands loyalty as Osborne defends him by saying – ‘He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got’ The fact that he has not taken proper leave in three years indicates his attitude to duty and his strength of character. It is clear that his experience at war has affected him. When he first appears the stage directions state that: ‘Although tanned by months in the open air, there is pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes’ He later admits that the reason why he has not been home since the battle at Vimy Ridge is because he does not wish Madge to see him as he has become. The arrival of Raleigh complicates an already complicated situation. Like any captain in wartime, he has to issue and follow orders, so to question the colonel’s suggestion of Raleigh for the raid and to apologise to Osborne when telling him about it shows us that Stanhope has human qualities too. Stanhope says to Raleigh ‘You think there’s no limit to what a man can bear?’ we recognise that he is human after all. Raleigh: Young, inexperienced, naÏve, eager and adaptable. Raleigh is the youngest officer in C Company. He is ‘healthy looking’. When he first appears, he is described as having a ‘boyish voice’ and hesitant speech, which indicate his lack of experience. Raleigh ‘hero –worships’ Stanhope which is evident in his letter home that despite the misgivings of Stanhope Raleigh still admires Stanhope. This is contrasted with the behaviour of Stanhope as he forces Raleigh to hand the letter in. Raleigh’s pride at being selected for the raid is contrasted with Osborne’s resignation of his fate. When Raleigh returns from the raid his ‘romantic’ image of war have become shattered. He may have won the M.C for bravery but he has lost a comrade and seen six men killed for a very small amount of information gained from the German prisoner. Raleigh attempts to copy Stanhope which leads to the other officers saying that he is ‘too keen on his duty’ Even when Raleigh is on his deathbed he says ‘I feel rotten lying here – everybody else – up there’ Osborne: Married, middle-aged, wise, approachable and loyal. Osborne is the oldest member of C Company, He is very loyal to Stanhope, who he recognises has suffered under the strain of leadership and three years’ of service. Stanhope and Osborne are very close. Osborne’s role as an advisor is made clear to us when we are told of his title of ‘uncle’ among the officers. We see that this is an extension of his former life as a schoolmaster and because of his age. Osborne is humble who, despite playing rugby for England, does not boast about his achievements. He is protective of Raleigh and does not let Raleigh know his true feelings about the raid. His reading of Alice in Wonderland and enjoyment of gardening suggest that he is intelligent and thoughtful.
Trotter: Friendly, dutiful, fat and humorous. Trotter is the only officer who clearly hasn’t been to public school. He is middle-aged and ‘homely looking’ He is described as having a ‘red, fat and round’ face. He is a friendly character who is welcoming of Raleigh. His love of gardening, his age and marriage provide a bond between him and Osborne who share memories of home. He is presented as an unemotional individual who uses humour and food to relieve the stress. After the death of Osborne Trotter is made second in command, he promises Stanhope that he will do his best and not let him down. Hibbert: Weak, scared and depressed. When Hibbert is first introduced he is described as ‘small’ and ‘slightly built’ Everything about him suggests a weak and ineffectual individual. From the very start he complains about a lack of appetite and goes to bed rather than eat his meal and join in with the conversation. Sherriff immediately establishes him as someone who is not contributing fully to the team, and because of this, we do not feel sympathy for him. Stanhope views him as a ‘worm’ and an ‘artful little swine’ Osborne offers a more restrained view. Sherriff presents Hibbert unfavourably throughout the play, but this is particularly clear at the meal after Osborne’s death. Hibbert demonstrates his true character by showing the other men rude pictures and boasting about his exploits with women. At the end of the play any sympathy we have for him after the incident with Stanhope is gone when he fails to do his duty at the end.