Compare and Contrast the Presentation of Themes of Comradeship and and Teamwork in Accrington Pals and Journeys End

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Compare and contrast the presentation of themes of comradeship and and teamwork in Accrington Pals and Journeys End in light of the opinion that 'War required selfless teamwork, courage and a willingness to play by the rules.' In light of Sheriffs view he wanted to create a play depicting the reality of real men, how they behaved, their feelings towards each other and the psychological effects of war. 'War required selfless teamwork, courage and a willingness to play by the rules' To me this idea applies to R.C Sheriffs, Journeys End as it centres around naïve, unquestioning men who fought the war because it seemed the only right and proper thing to do. Being a realist drama, the play is based around psychology rather than action. In this sense, the audience is able to connect with the characters through the dialogue and stage directions. When measured against, Whelan’s, Accrington pals, Whelan’s motive was also to portray a real representation but to distinguish the dramatic contrast between the men at the front and the women left behind outside the war; to face the social changes, deprivation and self reliance. It also differs as it is a surrealist drama combining fact with fantasy fiction. This has a different effect on the audiences interpretation as we are not entirely sure of the dramatists intentions of what we interpret.. Nevertheless, both dramatists incorporate the theme of comradeship and team work in their plays, again with stark differences. Where Journeys End clearly shows the sense of unity and team spirit amongst the soldiers brought about by the war, Accrington Pals conveys the opposite effect, on the women’s part who experience a lack,of comradeship and develop a sense of self empowerment, from the effect of the war. Both dramatists ability to construct complex yet realistic characters is notable in the way the theme of comradeship and
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