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

The Use of Language in Journeys EndJourneys End was R.C. Sherriffs only major theatrical production andhad had relatively little experience of bidwriting before. However,the language in the play does not battle array any evidence of this. Being setin the trenches 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 characters and theirlanguage as they would have been had they had actually been in thetrenches at the age and make sure that they were as realistic aspossible. Sherriff has aimed to relate the characters 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 different dialogue to each other to typify theircharacters and to distinguish them apart. The characters also havedifferent musical modes 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 verystart 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 of devil bottles on the table. Through the doorway can be seen the mistygrey barricade of the trench, and a narrow slit of starlit sky.This is typical of R.C. Sherriffs style. The notes atomic number 18 simple,explanatory 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 atmosphere outsi de. Sherriff also focusesgreatly on the actions and movements of each character. He does thisto portray the character in the scene exactly as he wants them to beperceived by the audience. This is shown in Act One where Raleigharrives in the trench for the first time and his uneasy disposition asa newcomer to the dugout is clearly apparent. Sherriff explainsAn officer comes groping down the steps and stands in thecandle-light. He looks round, a second base bewildered. He is a well built,healthy looking boy of about eighteen, with the new uniform of a 2nd