Daddy In The Military

Words: 863
Pages: 4

discussed again Daddy’s refusal to let Edward go into the Army, and the unmanliness of it.. in The Times a mother who said to her hesitating son ‘my boy I don't want you to go, but if i were you I should” (94). It is curious that it is the father being protective as opposed to the more protective mother, but he nevertheless represented a group of people who, no matter if they were right or wrong, disliked the war. Because of public perception, though, these anti-war people were dismissed and treated poorly as if they are enemies. As an older person, “Daddy does not care about E.’s honour or courage so long as he is safe. It is up to Edward and I to live up to our name of ‘Brittain” (88). In this case, Daddy represents a more safeguarded, wary …show more content…
Unfortunately, he is in the minority and does not exactly bode well with his fellow citizens. Disappointingly, he is both against war for his son and against education for Vera. After she passes exams that are required to get to Oxford, it is said that “Daddy… who instead of giving me a little of the praise which I had at least some reason to expect, burst out that it was no use my thinking of going to Oxford with this war on” (89). Because of this, Vera represents the majority of women’s situation during World War 1- not able to fight for her country, and not able to further educate herself due to financial strain or societal norms that enforce her to stay put and just be a typical housewife. Therefore, her dad represents those who knew all along just how devastating the battle could be, and were thoroughly against it as a …show more content…
Right as Edward is sent away, she immediately begins to regret her past feelings and understand her dads anxiety towards the subject. In fact, she is almost at a loss for words as she states that “to sum up the situation in any way is impossible, every hour brings fresh and momentous events and one must stand still and await catastrophes each even more terrible than the last” (77). She already misses Edward, as well as Rowland, and is stuck home with zero benefits to at least reap. She envisioned studying at Oxford while frequently being in touch with her loved ones, who would soon join her. Instead, she wallows at home in disbelief and sorrow as nothing goes her way. Every Sunday, they learn about more and more people dead, causing her to hate them: “Oh! These sundays- I almost wish they need not come, they are so full of bitterness” (208). Although this seems hypocritical, as every waning Sunday represents a day or week closer to seeing Edward and Rowland, she simply is overwhelmed with it all and cannot be content while hearing about the all-emasculating death factor within battle. She occasionally received word from those out, but not as often as she expects. The random letters gave her a “huge sense of joy” (171), but unfortunately could not solve her problems or make her happy again. As days pass by, the book slows down until