Hilliard doesn't interact with a huge amount of characters very deeply, but often has overviews of their personalities and is very judgemental in assessing different aspects of them. He comes across as quite cold and unforgiving with other people and aspects of this are shown in his relationship with the major. He doesn't give the major much time and is short in his responses “I’ve been in France.” The major asking a simple question and Hilliard is almost sarcastic in his response. This could be because Hilliard is tired of the home fronts view of war and that he doesn't want to continue what feels is a discounted view of what war is. However the Major is an old man and perhaps he is a little out of touch but this may be because people don't update him on how war changes. This shows a hypocritical nature within Hilliard as he is angered by the home front’s naivety but doesn't elect to tell them how its changed. It creates a relationship between the characters of discontent in Hilliard’s view of him within their relationship. Also this use of short, sharp and blunt sentences in common within Hill’s writing style which usually represents annoyance when used in speech. This quote is representative of this. Another aspect of the Major and Hilliard’s relationship is the idea that they don’t really have conversation they just talk at each other, without really listening on responding. “you weren't a cavalryman”… “oh, i do,” especially when the major talks back to Hilliard, he doesn't really take in what he says and responds he just talks at him. This shows a invalidity in their relationship. Perhaps it’s not really real, its been created as many relationships were of the time. Many relationships were very transparent and didn’t have much context but were just there because people felt they needed to have them. It could be interpreted as a similar idea to how Constance keeps up her look as she feels she's ‘doing her bit.’ They feel as if they must talk, must have a relationship but have no backing for it. Hilliard and the Major’s relationship could be seen as of a caring one. The Major could be seen as looking out for John while John could be seen as being comforting of the Major in his age. Constance tells Hilliard how the Major is “fond of him,” this shows a different way of looking at their relationship. It could open up the idea that the Major only says things like “you ought to have been a cavalryman” because he does care for Hilliard. He wants him to be a cavalryman because in his day that would of been one of the highest ranking and safest soldiers which he perhaps wants for Hilliard. A different view on this is that the Major thinks lowly of Hilliard in fact, and does just genuinely pity the fact he's believes he’s so low ranking. This shows a harshness in his treatment of Hilliard, not a kindness. Also to expand on this alternative view of their relationship, one could suggest that although Hilliard is very short and unsympathetic towards the Major. He does do it, he does do ‘his duty’ because he knows that the Major appreciates it somewhat. Perhaps showing a kindness in the relationship from Hilliard to the Major as well.

Another obvious, and key relationship that Hilliard holds in the beginning of the Novel is the one he holds with Beth. The first mention of Beth shows an attachment between the characters and a closeness between the two; “he had always gone to beth,” henceforth, immediately without even annotation you can tell Hilliard’s closeness and intimacy he seems to hold with Beth. This theme of closeness and intimacy in their relationship is shown throughly when Beth is first mentioned. Beth has a way of going about Hilliard which can coax him into doing things he wouldn't necessarily do otherwise. “come with me,” even though Beth herself is scared of the water, she overcomes this to help Hilliard. It shows how thoughtful she is of him, or used to be and how she will always try her best to help him. It also shows the intimacy of their relationship in that no one else would likely know how to get Hilliard to come and swim but she does know how, showing how well she knows him. Alternatively one could suggest it shows a controlling relationship in that even though Hilliard doesn't want to swim, she makes him because Beth believes it will help him in some sort of manner. Although this is a good cause it doesn't deny the fact Hilliard is perhaps controlled. Another aspect on there relationship is the change in it and how it is affected by war. Hilliard becomes frustrated because it appears to him that Beth has changed and now she cannot read him like she used to be able to. “does she not know,” Hilliard asks this, questions why she cant understand anymore. Why she has to ask questions and isn't able to just tell whats wrong. It could show how war affects relationships, even between siblings. Hilliard does not seem like the character that makes close relationships and bonds with people so one could perhaps assume that the ones he does make he tries to keep. However even with this close bond of family, is broken by war. Hilliard’s relationship with Beth also grows colder as he is angry that she isn't affected by war as he is. “She had not asked him that,” this could reiterate how his anger goes towards her because she can’t see what he sees. She doesn't know what the reality is. It seems to be that Hilliard is angry about this even though Beth cannot know as she isn't a soldier. It could again show a hypercritical side to Hilliard in that, similar to the Major, he finds people don't understand war but he again elects not to tell them. This is also the first time Hilliard describes Beth by using ‘she’ instead of a ‘Beth.’ This could represent the change in their relationship and the detachment in that he doesn't want to use her personal, first name but describes her with she. As if Beth is anybody else, not someone special like she used to be. Although there does seem to be some detachment between the two characters now, it is interesting how Beth still relies on him for his judgement and still cares about his view. “I did want you to see it,” Beth appears to still want John to recognise what she is doing as negative or positive. It could show how although Hilliard appears to have lost his faith in Beth somewhat, she still cares about him and wants his judgement before going into anything serious. Therefore the idea that their relationship is hindered by war, could perhaps just be a projection of what Hilliard thinks, not an unbiased view of it from both of the characters. The short, punctual and blunt sentences when the characters interact could represent the coldness Hilliard feels towards Beth now. Just like with the major. It could show that Beth has changed into being someone just like the rest, not personal to him, not someone that can make him feel alight unlike anyone else. However again, we only get Hilliard’s perspective on their relationship, for all we know Beth may not see that there is anything of amiss between them as we only get Hilliard's view.

The final relationship I’d like to discuss is that of Hilliard’s relationship with Constance Hilliard; his mother. In the first 40 or so pages it appears as if the relationship between Hilliard and Constance changes quite a lot. At first it seems apparent that Hilliard is very controlled by Constance and that in their relationship she is always right to some extent. “wrong about the riding john,” this is the first sort of interaction between the characters you are presented with. The letter very cold and quite critical in some respects. One would think that in a letter a mother gets to write to her son that she would be very loving would want to just check he was safe. Whereas Constance is intent in correcting Hilliard making it seem as if their relationship is quite cold and that it is just functional perhaps. However it could be showing a kindness from Constance; perhaps she knows that its probably terrible out there it the war, therefore she writes to him as if he was just at home. Therefore this may make him feel safer and feel as if there isn't anything to worry about. To further my above point about Hilliard being controlled, it is apparent that from a very young age Hilliard had no choice in what he really wanted to do. Constance continually tells Hilliard how “he will be” a dancer and “he will stick to it” etc. It could show that Constance perhaps wants whats going to look best for their family and having a daughter and a son that are good at dancing will look good. It could show there isn't really much care or though in their relationship but again, its just functional. Also Hill uses another writing style to put emphasis on what she wants Hilliard to be, what she thinks is best, not what necessarily is. At the top of page she introduces a long paragraph os speech, then ends it with a snappy sentence which reiterates what Constance has spoke about. Constance and Hilliard’s relationship appears to change however and Hilliard starts to grant her with somewhat more respect, and even perhaps to go as far as love her. It appears that Hilliard begins to see his mother for who she really is and starts to treasure that. “he loved her.” this is a clear portrayal that Hilliard does love his mother and that perhaps he finally sees it. It could show that Hilliard, now out of what could seem like an intense relationship with Beth, is able to see others for who they are and appreciate that more. Whereas before he didn't seem to care as much as he knew he had Beth. It could also show a maturity within Hilliard that war has enabled him to see the highlights of other people whereas before he perhaps was blinded. This could therefore also foreshadow how he is able to connect with Barton later on in the book, because he is able to let go of Beth, he can see other people for who they are.