‘To what extent does Barker suggest that traditional social barriers have been expanded or eradicated during the course of WWI?’
In your response, you should consider the following:
- Barker’s presentation of the role of women
- Changing attitudes to sex and sexuality
- The literary devices Barker uses (eg characterisation, narrative, imagery and symbolism, language and style)
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Throughout the novel, Barker has suggested to the reader in many different ways how throughout the course of WW1, traditional social barriers have been expanded or eradicated.
One way in which Barker shows that is when portraying the change in women’s attitude in the society. Women’s attitude has been shown to have changed greatly since the men have gone to war. A few examples of this change have been shown in the novel, more precisely in the extract on page 201, about how they are more open to sexuality. This is shown to the reader when one of the female factory workers say “I hope a man never tries to shove anything up her flue”. This type of behaviour would be considered quite abnormal, especially for this period, where women are not expected to act in such manner. They were not expected to even speak what’s on their mind, therefore showing how far women have evolved to be more free to speak their minds and more open to sexuality.
Another way to show change in the traditional society by Barker is through the presentation of the men at Craiglockhart and through the idea of emasculation. One example of this is explored through Burns’s outing to the fields on page 39 when he “cupped his genitals in his hands” because “they didn’t seem to belong with the rest of him”, suggesting the idea of emasculation, which before the war was seen as unthinkable. Men at the time were meant to be strong and manly, not to be acting like a woman or in any way like Burns and many patients at Craiglockhart. This is an important change, as it shows a reversal of roles between women, who are becoming more independent and men who are actually becoming more dependent. Referring to the quote, a man’s genitals are generally considered as his pride and proof that he’s a man, therefore the fact that Burns is hiding his genitals show that he is either ashamed or doesn’t consider himself as a man anymore.
Furthermore, Barker has also shown the ready how the men of Craiglockhart have become dependant on Rivers, as a father figure. For instance, this is shown when Sassoon goes to Rivers for help and guidance after he had one of his nightmares, only to realize that Rivers had gone for a while and that he had “come to take his father’s place” for Sassoon. This also shows a change in the way a traditional society works as men should not be dependant on anyone emotionally, even on their own fathers. This also symbolizes the fact that the men have become more and more dependant and in need of a father figure and also guidance and support, originally seen as a sign of weakness in that society.
As conclusion, the traditional society has been changed in many ways due to the war. Women have taken the place of men and have become less dependant on men and more independent, as well as men becoming less independent and more dependant. The idea of Emasculation and Patriarchy were also two major themes in the novel to show how society have changed throughout the war.
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