Stanhope

‘There is more than one hero in Journey’s End.” The reader relates the word “hero” with mainly one character in the play. But the word hero has many positive connotations. A hero could be a person who “saves the day” or is a hero in somebody else’s eyes or maybe even his personality and how he interacts with other characters could also give him the status of being a hero. There are many aspects of Stanhope which rightfully award him the status of being a hero. The reader is first introduced to the possibility of Stanhope being a hero when we first meet Raleigh. A keen and un-experienced officer, Raleigh forces himself into Stanhope’s battalion. Stanhope was Raleigh’s hero ever since high school, Raleigh mentioning Stanhope regularly in his conversations shows how Raleigh looks up to him. After Raleigh's arrival, Stanhope reacts twice in act one to different things, but Raleigh seems to go on unknowing, oblivious to Stanhope’s change in attitude from school, showing that Raleigh admires Stanhope even more. Stanhope suspects that his constant need for alcohol to keep him going will be reported Raleigh's letter home makes him angry. This is only Stanhope's view, however, Osborne tells him: 'You imagine things'. Stanhope is the corrected moments later when Raleigh's letter is read out: 'I'm awfully proud to think he's my friend’ /this shows to Stanhope that Raleigh understands he’s conditions. In the letter he even mentions all the nice things such as how all the soldiers say how he’s always lighting the mood and never getting any sleep. Another act of heroism of Stanhope is when Hibbert is determined to leave the front line because of neuralgia. Unimpressed Stanhope trying to force him to stay saying, “Dr. Preston’s never let shirker pass him yet – and he’s not going to start now…” As the scene goes on we see the how firm Stanhope is on keeping Hibbert here, mentioning to Hibbert that he too has neuralgia and that if he can stand it so can he. After many tension gripping lines Stanhope finally pulls a gun up to Hibbert and he takes it Stanhope informs Hibbert that he is acutely very brave sticking up in front of the gun, “Good man… I liked the way you stuck that.” Then comforting Hibbert putting his arm around him and asking him if we would like some company, this shows great courage for Stanhope keeping a solider to fight for his country. We see a quiet hero shown in Osborne. Osborne: "My names Osborne, Second in command of the company. You can call me 'sir' in front of the men". This suggests that Osborne went day in and day out for his country and did his duty, even though he knew he was going to die for a hopeless cause. He was also very level headed, and was referred by everyone by 'uncle', so he made a great hero. Many acts of heroism is how Stanhope looks up to Osborne and always going to him for words of comfort and even asking him to tuck him and kiss his forehead like a father would do to a son. Also asking calming Raleigh when he first comes to the company and how he told Raleigh about he’s past and letting Raleigh tell him his school life with Stanhope, letting Raleigh get comfortable. Raleigh even mentions him in he’s letter home, “…awfully nice officer there…” Also another act of heroism is his patriotism to his country, playing rugby for England, being a school teacher, fighting and dying for his country. There is a hero in all of the characters of Journey’s End, such as Raleigh for he’s duty and dying for it, Totter for making the most of a dreadful situation and even Hibbert for sticking up to a gun for what he believes in, doing any means necessary for good.