What are the themes of journeys end by r.c sheriff?

Answer 1

Personally, I think that the central theme in the play is of the futility of the first world war and the comradship the men experience with one another to get through the war.

I think there are many other themes including sacrifice- the sacrifice of stanhope through his choice of drinking and the sacrifice of raleigh through his death.

There's the idea of status and the crossing of the different ranks the coldness of the colonel.

Grief- the loss of osborne.

Heroism- Osborne is a quiet, underlying hero who has respect from the men and he is selfless.

The harsh reality and pointlessness of war and how each man copes with the pressure differently (stanhope by alcohol)

Escapism- each character deals with war differently and we know that Osborne reads books such as Alice in wonderland which is a child's book, Stanhope drinks Alcohol to forget about the present situation, Trotter eats food to cope and to maybe carry on as normal and Hibbert tries to literally escape.

But i agree that the one of the main themes is the comradeship and brotherhood we see, Osborne and Stanhope's relationship (osborne- "I love that fellow. I'd go to hell with him") Raleigh and Osborne, and Stanhope and hibbert when hibbert is in need, stanhope shares his weakness and helps him through.

Answer 2

Some themes in "Journey's End" by R.C. Sheriff include the futility of war, the effects of conflict on individuals, the bond between soldiers, the contrast between duty and personal emotions, and the overall sense of dread and inevitability in wartime.