Stanhope R C Sherriff represents Stanhope as a

Stanhope

• R. C Sherriff represents Stanhope as a ‘’natural leader’’ • In the closing scenes of the play, there is intense humanity between Stanhope and Raleigh as Stanhope comforts the dying Raleigh. • Stanhope is described in the stage directions as, "no more than a boy". • He threatens to shoot Hibbert, who he sees as a "coward", trying to avoid the battle by pretending to be ill. This scene allows Sheriff an opportunity to see a darker side of Stanhope but also to develop useful insights into the effects of war on men. • Towards the end of the play, Sherriff presents Stanhope to make it clear on how he disagrees with the command of the war by the generals, separated as they are from the reality the men are facing.

• Towards the end of the play, Sherriff presents Stanhope to make it clear on how he disagrees with the command of the war by the generals, separated as they are from the reality the men are facing. • Stanhope is presented as a ‘’major drinker’’, Sherriff uses ‘drinking’ as a dramatic attitude towards Stanhope and shows that ‘drinking’ is what Stanhope uses to cope with the war. • Stanhope is the main character and he is in charge of all the other characters. • Stanhope is furious that Lt Raleigh has found a way to join his unit. Mostly because he is worried that Raleigh will tell his sister about his (Stanhope’s) drinking. He tries to confiscate a letter Raleigh has written only to discover that Raleigh described him as a hero.

• Towards the end, Stanhope makes it clear how he disagrees with the command of the war by the generals, separated as they are from the reality the men are facing. • Stanhope’s real fear is that his status back home as a 'hero' will be blown. This is shown in the desperate way he "clutches Raleigh’s wrist and tears the letter from his hand" - a letter which could reveal the truth about his drinking. • Stanhope’s encouragement of Hibbert helps to suggest to the audience the importance of "getting on together". "Shall we go on together? We know how we both feel now. Shall we see if we can stick it together? “. • The use of formal surnames, "Stanhope" and "Raleigh", for example, normal in public schools and the army is something the audience are forced to think about at the end of the play. When Raleigh is dying, he calls Stanhope "Dennis" who replies, to the audience’s surprise with "Jimmy. ”

• Despite his heroism, he is presented as being very human, even something of "child" at heart, enjoying "Uncle" Osborne tucking him in to bed at night. • Towards the end, Stanhope makes it clear how he disagrees with the command of the war by the generals, separated as they are from the reality the men are facing.

Quotes ‘There isn’t a man to touch him as a commander of men. ’ – Osborne continues to defend and build up Stanhope for the audience I love that fellow. I’d go to hell with him. ’ – The personal aspect of his devotion to Stanhope is brought out by this quotation. There is something of a father-son relationship between them, as there will be fleetingly between Trotter and Raleigh. ‘I remember once at school he caught some chaps in a study with a bottle of whisky. Lord! The roof nearly blew off. He gave them a dozen each with a cricket stump. ’ – This is ironic, first of all, considering Stanhope is now dependent on whisky, but it also gives us an interesting insight into his character. ‘Yes, I’m his hero’ – and, through Raleigh, he is Madge’s hero too. Stanhope feels that it is impossible for him to live up to Raleigh’s expectations