How does Sheriff create sympathy to Stanhope in Act 1?
In Act 1, Sheriff introduces most of the characters. In the conversation between Hardy and Stanhope we get what do people outside the command think about Stanhope.
Hardy, an Officer from another Regiment, describes Stanhope as ‘a really sort of freak’ – a reference to Stanhope’s alcoholism. However, the audience would not believe him, because of his carelessness about the things he is responsible for and the way Osborne is described – a hard-working middle-aged and mature soldier, while Hardy is ‘red-faced, cheerful man’.
Although Osborne still does not give us a clear description of Stanhope, we finally do when he talks to Raleigh. He is three years younger than Stanhope, studied in the same school with him and in addition Stanhope was going out with Raleigh’s sister before the war. Raleigh describes Stanhope as a very strong person, as someone, who ‘was keen on the fellows ... keeping fit.’ This puts Osborne in awkward situation – ’... if you notice – a difference in Stanhope - ... it only the strain’.
In spite of Osborne’s warnings, Raleigh continues to think that Stanhope is perfect –‘I am frightfully keen to get into Dennis’s regiment’. Raleigh mentions that he would be writing letters to his sister, which made Stanhope rather angry. He knows he is an alcoholic and the idea of his family and Raleigh’s sister finding out makes him feel ashamed of himself.
Stanhope’s reaction to the appearance of Raleigh – he did not even shake hands with him makes the audience think that he is very annoyed for a few reasons. At first, he feels that he is now responsible for the boy, who is a bit like a young brother and there is a strong likeness with his sister. If Raleigh dies, Stanhope will probably not be able to look in Raleigh’s sisters’ eyes. But much bigger reason is that if his sister would know, then Stanhope’s family would find out as well – a dreadful thing for Stanhope – ‘... he didn’t think he was fit to meet papa’.
Talking about his personality, with his men Stanhope is all-knowing commander, someone, whose heart is made of steel, someone, with who they ‘love’ and ‘go to hell with...’, self-confident, charismatic leader and trusted. Osborne, someone who knows Stanhope very well describes him as ‘long way the best company commander we’ve got.’ This suggests us that soldiers greatly admire Stanhope, who does not separate himself from other soldiers and is fair, not letting ‘pure little funk’ Hibbert go , who is simulating his neuralgia in order to get out of the war. This, for the audience, makes him a good judge – a positive side of Stanhope.
Meanwhile, the way he was acting when Osborne was putting him in bed. ‘I’m bloody tired; ache – all over – feel sick.’ He complains to Osborne, whom he calls ‘Dear old Uncle’, suggesting to us that Osborne plays the role of father for Stanhope, when his actual father-vicar is back in England. In addition, we see that not only he is weak, but also he has many problems, which rest on his shoulders only, which makes audience feel a bit depressed as it seems too much for 21 year old. Drinking plays an important role in the play. Some people, like Hardy, accuse Stanhope of being a ‘hard drinker’. ‘People pay with a bottle of whisky for the morbid curiosity of seeing him drink it.’ This suggests us, that many soldiers find it amusing and cheer Stanhope on, when he drinks, mistakably thinking that he is doing it for fun or just because he is ‘a freak show exhibit’, that Osborne sadly admits. However, we are suggested an another, a more reasonable way of explaining Stanhope’s addiction. That is what Stanhope himself says. ‘... that awful affair of Vimy Ridge. I knew I’d go mad if I didn’t break the strain’. It makes the audience feel pity for him, because although he does not mention what happened, we clearly understand that it is something unbearably horrifying. To conclude, the best way to create sympathy to Stanhope, used by Sheriff in Act 1 in ‘Journey’s End’ is the description of Osborne putting him into bed in comparison with Stanhope’s behaviour in front of men, as it creates empathy with the audience, which put themselves on Stanhope’s place, being overwhelmed by problems, awkwardness and shame, but not giving up.