Use of Language in Journeys End by RC Sheriff :: Journeys End Essays

The Use of Language in excursions EndJourneys End was R.C. Sherriffs only major theatrical turnout andhad had relatively little experience of satisfywriting before. However,the language in the play does not show any evidence of this. Being setin the take advantagees in the Great War, and being with a serious, ingrainedmessage, the play needed to be presented to the audience powerfullyand effectively. The language needed to show the denotations and theirlanguage as they would have been had they had actually been in thetrenches at the time and make sure that they were as realistic aspossible. Sherriff has aimed to relate the mentions speech directlyto their character but also to create a powerful picture in the mindsof the audience. One of his main aims in the play was to present thepublic with a play to show the real attitudes during the war. Eachcharacter has polar parley to each other to typify theircharacters and to distinguish them apart. The characters also havedifferent styles of language that provides various elements to theplay. Although the play is of a deeply profound nature, the play hasvital outlets of comic relief which is displayed through thecharacters in the play.The stage notes throughout the play show the simple, atmospheric stylethe Sherriff uses in describing the aspects of the play. The very bring of the play which describes the set, and the situation for thewhole play, tunes the audience into the tone of the scene.Warm yellow candle flames light the other corner from the necks oftwo bottles on the table. with the doorway can be seen the mistygrey breastwork of the trench, and a narrow slit of starlit sky.This is typical of R.C. Sherriffs style. The notes are simple, instructive but have the aura of the scene in mind. The characterisedaspects of the scene such as the Warm yellow candle flames and themisty grey parapet contrast to emit the homeliness in the trench,but with the sinister, stony cash machine outside. Sherriff also fo cusesgreatly on the actions and movements of each character. He does thisto portray the character in the scene exactly as he wants them to be sensed by the audience. This is shown in Act One where Raleigharrives in the trench for the first time and his uneasy disposition asa neophyte to the dugout is clearly apparent. Sherriff explainsAn officer comes groping down the steps and stands in thecandle-light. He looks round, a bit bewildered. He is a well built, healthful looking boy of about eighteen, with the new uniform of a second