Q 16) What do you think of the view that the most meaningful relationships in Birdsong are those between men?
One may argue that the view that the most meaningful relationships in Birdsong are those between men is true to some extent. In the novel Faulks presents a number of meaningful relationships between men that are key to helping the characters maintain a purpose throughout the war within the novel.

Stephen forms a relationship with Weir that wouldn’t have been of the same nature had they not been involved in a combat situation, but the element of war helps them to understand one another, creating a meaningful relationship between the men. Stephen and Weir place an element of trust in one another ‘I want you to do the runes, tell me my fortune.’ Weir relies on Stephen in this instance to convince him that he will survive and make it through the war. Evidently Stephen fixes the cards but without the use of the fortune telling Weir would surely lack confidence and almost certainly expect death. The strength of the relationship, however, is such that both characters can rely on each other through the hardships of war.

The relationship between Jack Firebrace and Stephen underground also supports the view that the most meaningful relationships in Birdsong are those between men. Jack’s character is first introduced ‘lying forty five feet underground’. This presents an ominous, dangerous mood. Faulks also implements a sense of foreshadowing here as Jack’s introduction reflects the danger Jack and Stephen find themselves in at the end of the novel. When Firebrace reports to Stephen the following day they discover they have a common interest in art. This common ground and compassion is what initially draws the characters closer together. Throughout the novel both Jack and Stephen’s stories are intertwined, creating a parallel time frame, which shows how their lives are inadvertently bound.

Throughout the novel the relationship becomes stronger ‘Jack had taken to drawing Stephen instead.’ This shows admiration between the characters. The fact that Jack replaces his son’s memory with that of Stephen shows the significant importance that Stephen has in Jack’s life. This feeling is sought to be mutual between the characters as they come together when Stephen is presumed dead ‘Stephen took one small step and pitched into Jack’s arms.’ Faulks does this to show that the action is symbolic Jack saving Stephen’s life as well as foreshadowing when Stephen attempts to repay the favour in the tunnels towards the end of the novel.

The view that the most meaningful relationships in Birdsong between men is again highlighted during Jack’s death. In the tunnel the men break the formalities of war, breaching the idea of hierarchy which highlights the desperation the men have to feel companionship ‘listen, you’re going to be free, you’re getting out.’ Faulks presents Stephen’s desperate attempts to keep Jack alive and ensure he isn’t left along again having been left by Isabella and Weir previously in the book thus emphasising the love that they have for one another.
Although I think that the relationship between Stephen and Isabelle is meaningful because it shows a strong sense of compassion and love between two characters, I think that the most meaningful relationships in Birdsong where those between men. In the novel, throughout the brutality of war, the friendships between Stephen and Jack and Weir were the single most important factor that enabled their characters within the novel to maintain any sense of purpose. Faulks presented the relationships they had as something so special, so vital that without them the characters would’ve greeted death. However, the sense of unity and companionship between them is symbolic of what soldiers in reality would’ve felt towards one another during the war therefore proving that the most meaningful relationships presented in the book were those between men.