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Paul McCarthy Letter sent from Major-General Liddament, Divisional Commander of forces in Northern Ireland, to Army Headquarters, London. NOTE: This letter and its contents are to be held as highly confidential. It contains information vital to the success of our forces at home and abroad. Sirs, For the sake of expediency, I wish to be brief in my opinions here today. I am currently occupied with taking over control of the division. Unfortunately Bors, one of my dogs, has come down with ringworm, and so I must attend to him. Therefore, I have very little time to make my remarks here. However, there is one very important but simple matter I wish to discuss with you. Unfortunately, before I can do so, I feel I must allay a fear several of you have expressed, either in person or in print, this last week. And that is the cases of Private "Deafy" Morgan and Sergeant Pendry. Both Pvt. Morgan and Sgt. Pendry were stationed at the post in Castlemallock, a few miles north of the Irish border. They were both assaulted by Irish locals, resulting in the loss of Pvt. Morgan's firearm and Sgt. Pendry's untimely death last week. There is the fear that these are not isolated incidents, that they represent a growing distrust, even outright hatred of the British Army by the Nationalists in southern Ireland, and that these assaults will increase in frequency and severity as long as our presence is felt here. However, I have spoken personally with many of the local Irish, and they have all assured me that there is nothing but love in the hearts of the Irish people for what we are doing. They fear Germany just as much as we do. I believe that these attacks are not the result of hatred for the Army but rather dissatisfaction with how we are faring abroad. The public has heard of Allied failures on the continent; they are afraid and so they are acting out against authority. It is my assessment, then, that there is no real threat from the Irish here, and that, once we make our presence known on the continent, any malcontents here will fade into the woodwork. Now that that affair has been sorted out, I would like to turn my attention to more pressing matters. As you may know, the Northern Ireland division has recently undergone a series of exercises which I designed personally to assess our battle readiness, and I must say I was very impressed with what I saw. One minor weakness the weekend uncovered was a company led by a Captain Rowland Gwatkin. On the opening march across the field, Captain Gwatkin's company became horribly out of position, and as a result the Battalion's objective was almost compromised. I am not telling this story out of a desire to hurt Captain Gwatkin's standing. As a matter of fact, I quite like the man, and believe he is in for a promotion very soon. It is just that, after I heard of this balls-up, I thought it best to do an inspection on Captain Gwatkin's company at their encampment, to make sure all was in order. The encampment was well fortified, all the supplies were attended to and stored out of the rain, and the soldiers' sleeping quarters were in pristine condition. It was there, however, that a Second Lieutenant Jenkins informed me of a certain dietary deficiency which was clearly overlooked in the bustle of preparing our campaign: at present, we do not give out porridge in daily rations. Hopefully I do not have to explain to such distinguished soldiers as you, sirs, how crucial porridge is in any good soldier's diet. I shall not bore you with overly complicated scientific jargon, but suffice to say, it provides the soldier with both oats and milk, two key parts to any decent diet. I believe it is imperative that we fix this problem immediately, before we begin moving en masse onto the continent. If need be, I can effect this transfer myself. I have recently been assigned a new assistant who can take control of any minor problems that occur while I deal with this egregious oversight. I would only need your permission to do so. Thank you very much for helping me solve this problem quietly and efficiently. Once we remove this roadblock, I feel nothing can stop us in our quest to overcome the Axis forces. Dutifully, Major-General H. de C. Liddament |
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Cassidy Carpenter Widmerpool has always been a very self-confident character in Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time, but this ostentatious attitude has never been considered a serious problem. We have accepted his character without considering the condition of a narcissistic personality disorder. There are nine components laid out by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which an individual must meet to be diagnosed, each of which Widmerpool wholly embodies (Mayo Clinic Screening and Diagnosis). Though this has not led to any pervasive complications physically, his social interactions have always suffered. The only person who has a failed to indicate any misgivings on Widermerpool's behalf is his mother, who may be the main reason he has developed such a profound exemplification of a narcissistic personality disorder. The first three requirements for diagnosis go hand-in-hand: Widmerpool has overextended sense of entitlement, has a grandiose sense of self-importance, and shows arrogant, haughty behaviors and attitudes (Mayo Screening and Diagnosis). Though these traits come up almost every time Nick encounters Widmerpool, the most recent example is when Nick reports to the DAAG in The Valley of Bones. Nick finds himself face-to-face with Widmerpool who is quick to point out their difference in rank by saying "don't feel rank makes a gulf between us," though Nick makes no implication that this had been his feeling (VB 240). Once Widmerpool's status is emphasized he continues to express his feelings of greater entitlement than his current state of operations, "the division is spoken of as potentially operational. So far as I am concerned, it is a backwater. Besides, I have to do most of the work here" (VB 240). Through this statement we see that Widmerpool thinks himself much better than this meager operation and is the only one who is effective and meaningful in the whole Division. His arrogance is perceived by his senior offers like General Liddament, who "adopts a mock-heroic style of talk" whenever Widmerpool approaches him (VB 241). Instead of seeing the motivation of the General's jest Widmerpool puts it off as "very undignified for a relatively senior officer" (VB 241). He will not even give the General the full credit of his seniority saying that he is only "relatively senior" and though the General may be undignified, Widmerpool himself will strive to be even more stately in manner than before by making sure that "he can find nothing to complain of in my work" (VB 241). This interaction between Widmerpool and Nick alone supports all three of these points of diagnosis. The next three requirements are of a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success and power, a lack of empathy, and the belief that others are envious of them. An excellent example of these qualities is exhibited when Nick approaches Widmerpool with the hope of acquiring a spot in the army once the war has stared. Widmerpool chastises Nick for not entering his name in the reserve even though he had told Nick that he did not think there would be war, "think how long I have been a territorial officer. You should have looked ahead" (KO 220). To Widmerpool his way is always the right way; even when he has made a wrong prediction he puts Nick down for not previously entering the reserves. Due to this lack of foresight on Nick's part, Widmerpool claims he cannot help him. In a degrading tone for a contemporary Widmerpool tells him that he is too old but that he will try to look out for him because, "I may be in a position well placed for doing so before many moons have waned" (KO 221). Widmerpool believes that his infinite wisdom has positioned him well above Nick. Widmerpool assumes that Nick must be envious that he will soon be in control of much greater power. Even when Widmerpool is offering help he is putting Nick down. These delusions of grandeur cause Widmerpool to miss the realities of Nick's humble disposition and equal value as a person. The last three traits build off this grandiose sense of self, emphasizing Widmerpool's trouble with personal relationships. He believes that he is unusually "special" and unique, requires excessive admiration, and is interpersonally exploitative. When Widmerpool invites Nick to dinner to ask the appropriate way to approach his fiancé about sexual interactions before their marriage, he is using Nick for affirmation of his predetermined desires. Nick recalls that "he positively forced one to agree that his own affairs were intensely important: indeed, the only existing question of any real interest" (ALM 56). Widmerpool forces Nick to give him the desired admiration and verification that his situation is unique and solely important. He makes it clear that he thinks poorly of Nick's profession and aspirations, "it may lead to something better. If you are industrious, you get on. That is true of all professions, even the humblest" (ALM 52). Widmerpool's low opinion of Nick gives him gratification and self-affirmation of the importance of his own affairs, exploiting Nick for his own narcissistic tendencies. Though the root of a narcissistic personality disorder is unknown, one possibility is that of excessive pampering and extremely high expectations during childhood (Mayo Causes). Mrs. Widmerpool is Kenneth's one true unrelenting believer who herself exuded the same air as Kenneth of being "unusually pleased with herself" (BM 265). She thinks excessively high of her son and supports his narcissistic characteristics as undeniable signs of success. When Nick first meets Mrs. Widmerpool in A Buyer's Market her undying admiration for her son and the credit she takes in his success is palpable. When Nick tells her that he had spent time at the La Grenadière with her son, she is "amazed at he brilliance of [Nick's] parents in having hit on the only possible household in the whole of France" (BM 262). Mrs. Widmerpool seems awed that anyone could have had such a novel idea as she and enjoyed such an enriching experience as her son. Her world revolves around the accomplishments of Widmerpool and has instilled this same prideful attitude in him. It cannot be confirmed that Widmerpool's narcissistic personality disorder stemmed from his mother, despite this compelling evidence that this is true. Widmerpool is not just a self-assured English businessman; his arrogance has reached beyond a simple character flaw. If evaluated in terms of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by psychiatric professionals, it is easy to see Widmerpool's personification of a narcissistic personality disorder. He meets all nine requirements and has expressed them from book one through seven, and shows no signs of changing. This discovery may help put Widmerpool in perspective, allowing readers to discredit his pompous statements and claims as delusional fantasies to which he has projected upon his world. Sources: Mayo Clinic Staff. Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Causes. Mayo Clinic: Nov. 29, 2007 < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcissistic-personality-disorder /DS00652/DSECTION=3>. Mayo Clinic Staff. Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Screening and Diagnosis. Mayo Clinic: Nov. 29, 2007 < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcissistic-personality-disorder/DS00652/DSECTION=6>. |
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Erica Bakies World War II was a time when Ireland was just beginning to create an identity for itself as a new country. In The Valley of the Bones, Nick describes border attacks and hears about Maureen's experience as an Irish citizen. The historical context on which Nick's tour of duty was performed is a crucial one to Ireland's past. Right before WWII, the country was torn to into two major regions. Northern Ireland, around 90% Catholic and Protestant, wanted independence from Ireland[1]. Nick's troops, in The Valley of the Bones, were there to protect the Northern Irish from the war, but also to try and create some peace on the border during such a difficult time in Ireland's history. During WWII, Ireland declared neutrality on all fronts as a small, newly formed country. The country itself did not feel comfortable entering a conflict which may have ended up creating more hardships as they were already cast in a shadow of controversy. On the other hand, Northern Ireland allied with the British forces. Nationalists, people who favored the country staying together as one, who lived in Northern Ireland cried out with anguish at having to live in a country which had temporarily given power to the British. However, even Eamon DeValera, Ireland's newly appointed prime minister, had sympathetic urges towards the British. He often allowed those Allied soldiers who parachuted into Ireland to "accidentally" escape to British-controlled Northern Ireland[2]. Nick's experiences in the novel pertain specifically to the disruptions on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. According to my grandfather, who was only 13 years old at the time living in Kilarney, Ireland, border raids were frequent. Just as a few years ago, when IRA bombings occurred on the boundary and fights showed up every other day in the newspapers, in 1940 the border where Nick was stationed was constantly under attack. It wasn't uncommon for people to cross the border, vandalize, and then return to the other side. The British army was there to make sure that things stayed under control, as well as protect the Irish citizens in case WWII broke out in Ireland. Robbing the soldiers stationed there became a regular occurrence, just as when Deafy Morgan was attacked and his rifle stolen. My grandfather also told me about how upset the Nationalists were in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, if you didn't own a house you couldn't vote. With the limited number of jobs available, it wasn't surprising that people didn't own homes. Over 14,000 Irish citizens left to work in Britain at the outbreak of war[3]. The Nationalists who wanted Ireland to remain as a whole country, often claimed they couldn't express their feelings in the democratic system because they couldn't vote. They were often harassed and hurt by the citizens of Northern Ireland. This became another source of conflict that the British forces were there to deal with, and could have led to the situation Maureen was in. Her family crossed the border to be in Northern Ireland under the protection of the British troops. When the war broke out, over 70,000 volunteers left Ireland to fight in the British army[4]. At the end of our conversation, my grandfather began to recall old friends who died in the war. "They would have been around 90 or 100 now ... if they had survived," he said. As a little boy living in the country, my grandfather never heard much about the war. His family didn't own a radio, and the newspaper came maybe once a week from someone who went to town. News of the war affected the Irish families, and the British army like Nick's were there to support the government in a desperate time of war and civil conflict. As my grandfather said, "An awful lot of Irish boys gave their lives in World War II." Notes: [1] http://www.reform.org/TheReformMovement_files/article_files/articles/war.htm [2] http://www.reform.org/TheReformMovement_files/article_files/articles/war.htm [3] http://wiki.answers.com/Q/On_which_side_did_Ireland_fight_during_World_War_2 [4] http://wiki.answers.com/Q/On_which_side_did_Ireland_fight_during_World_War_2 |
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Alyssa Warren In the Valley of Bones, Nick Jenkins experiences the phenomenon of military life as a Second Lieutenant. He encounters handfuls of new characters among the ranks, and through his constant observation and just narration, the reader gains an understanding of military life. En route to the Tollands', he meets David Pennistone. The two engage in an interesting conversation about Vigny's Grandeur Militaire. Rowland Gwatkin, Nick's superior, fulfills many of Vigny's ideas of the ideal soldier. Gwatkin, a dedicated officer, sacrifices his own thought and action to better serve the military. Despite this, he fails to meet one of Vigny's standards-that in the military "there is as little room for uncontrolled fervor as for sullen indifference." Gwatkin demonstrates extreme fervor while dealing with Maureen. It is this fervor that leads to his drastic change of personality, loss of composure, and ultimately his failure as a military officer. Pennistone relays one of Vigny's conclusions about soldiering to Nick: "The soldier is a dedicated person, a sort of monk of war" (p. 107). Nick's first impression of Gwatkin, which "could hardly have been more characteristic," is that Gwatkin is "above all a man dedicated to duty" (p. 12). Beyond his clear dedication to the army in his everyday actions and strict manner of regulation and discipline, Gwatkin's possesses a greater dedication due to his idea of future service in the army. Nick notes that "there was an air of resolve about him, the consciousness of playing a part to which a high destiny had summoned him" (p. 13). The intensity of Gwatkin's devotion to the British military would seem to characterize him as the ideal officer; however, Vigny asserts that devotion is not the sole trait required of a successful military officer. According to the Pennistone's paraphrasing, Vigny believes that "those in uniform have made the greater sacrifice by losing the man in the soldier-what he calls the warrior's abnegation, his renunciation of thought and action" (p. 108). The idea of free thought is accompanied by the ideas of free speech and free expression. By the time Nick encounters Gwatkin, he has already renounced his ability of free thinking. While welcoming Nick to the company, Gwatkin "[speaks] this very formal speech in a rough tone, with the barest suggestion of sing-song, his voice authoritative" (p. 9). His expressionless tone of voice suggests Gwatkin has sacrificed his personal style of expression. Later on, Gwatkin introduces himself to Nick and asks for his Christian name. After hearing Nick Jenkins' name, Gwatkin replies, "Mine is Rowland. The Commanding Officer says we should not be formal with each other off parade" (p. 11). Asking for Nick's first name seems like a friendly gesture, as if Gwatkin is hoping to be welcoming. The friendliness of this gesture is lost when Gwatkin reveals his motive behind asking is the fact that "the Commanding Officer says" so (p. 11). This sacrifice of thought and action causes Nick to state, "His excessively `regimental' manner [is] certainly over and above anything as yet encountered among other officers of the Battalion" (p. 13). Gwatkin nearly meets Vigny's standards as an exemplary soldier. Tragically, his dedication and sacrifice accompanied with his heroic views of the military are not enough. Vigny asserts that the army is "a way of life in which there is as little room for uncontrolled fervour as for sullen indifference" (p. 108). Gwatkin's downfall begins when he "[develops] a new vagueness, even bursts of apparent indolence" (p. 175). These fits of lethargy are paired conversely with moments of "abandoning all pretence of being a `man of few words'" and "bursts of talkativeness" (p. 176). The reason behind Gwatkin's absurd behavior is his love for Maureen. Gwatkin cannot express his feelings for Maureen to Nick. Nick realizes that "Gwatkin [is] in love" (p. 190). Eventually Gwatkin notices his own behavioral changes and confides in Nick that "unless it stops a bit, [he is] frightened [he'll] make a fool of [himself] in some way to do with commanding the Company" (192). Foreshadowing his own demise, he further says, "A girl like Maureen makes everything go out of your head" (p. 192). Days later, Gwatkin loses complete control of the Company with his handling of Bithel's drunken affair and his balls-up with the code words. He is shortly "relieved of his Company" (p. 217). Gwatkin's failure as Vigny's ideal soldier can only be accounted to his lovesickness for Maureen. Although a sad demise, Gwatkin's downfall seems to be predicted by Nick from their first meeting. Nick states, "Even this first sight of him reveal[s] a novelty of character, at one apparent, though hard to define. There was, in the first place, some style about him. However much he might physically resemble the rest, something in his air and movements also showed a divergence form the humdrum routine of men" (p. 9). This "novelty of character" that Nick observes is the part of Gwatkin that makes him human. Despite Gwatkin's romanticism of military life and his aspirations to reach heroic status, he cannot fit into Vigny's box of the ideal soldier. |
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Nick Anschuetz Every installment of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series has a title that either metaphorically or literally relates to the story of that specific novel. For example, the first book is titled A Question of Upbringing because it tells the story of the preparatory school days of Nick, Stringham, Templer, and Widmerpool and highlights the characters' differences. Less figuratively, the fourth book is called At Lady Molly's because Nick meets his future wife and learns of Widmerpool's upcoming marriage at Lady Molly's house. Nevertheless, no title in the series we have read so far is as poignant or mystical as the seventh installment's, The Valley of Bones. At a glance, the title seems a complete non-sequitor. However, the title not only explains what's in the novel, but also helps our understanding of it as well. The phrase "valley of bones" comes from Ezekiel 37, the sermon which Popkiss preaches to the soldiers at the end of chapter one. In the passage, God leads Ezekiel to a valley filled with the bones of dead Israelites. God then instructs Ezekiel to prophesy the word of the Lord to the bones, and the bones begin to stand upright and become human again. The resurrected then become Ezekiel's army to reclaim Israel. The overarching story of Powell's The Valley of Bones almost directly parallels this narrative in numerous ways. The first mention of bones in the novel comes on page 2: "Although [Nick's ancestors] had remained in these parts only a couple of generations, there was an aptness, something fairly inexorable, in reporting under the badges of second-lieutenant to a spot from which quite a handful of forerunners of the same blood had set out to become unnoticed officers of Marines or the East India Company; as often as not to lay twenty-year-old bones in the cemeteries of Bombay and Mysore." Nick remarks that he is training to become a second lieutenant in Wales at the same place where his ancestors had trained to become officers many years before. Powell's phrase "lay twenty-year-old bones in the cemeteries of Bombay and Mysore" establishes a connection between the two generations. Nick is simply the reincarnation of his ancestors; a symbol of their bones rising up to fight again. The "valley of bones" also refers to the British Army after the First World War. Out of 2.6 million enlisted men, over 1.6 million were wounded and over 650,000 were confirmed killed.[1] Britain spent the years in between the two world wars rebuilding their infrastructure rather than their military. When World War Two broke out, Britain had initially to scramble to survive. They had at their disposable seemingly only a valley of dry bones with which to make an army. The soldiers with whom Nick has interactions are truly made from random bones scattered across a valley floor. None of them are fighters: Nick is a writer, and most of the others are miners or engaged in some other nonviolent profession. Most of them are not very good at what they do; Bithell is an alcoholic, Nick is too old for his rank and is found not to be a good field commander, Gwylt is a womanizer, Deafy Morgan is practically deaf, Sayce is Gomer Pyle, General Liddament is dictatorial, and Captain Gwatkin is such a bad company commander that he is relieved of his duties due to incompetence. The army is so ragtag that even Widmerpool, the most unlikely of all the characters, makes Major. Another correlation between The Valley of Bones and Ezekiel 37 is that in both stories the "bones" all come from the same place. In Ezekiel 37, the bones all come from Israel. In the novel, they all come from Wales. Powell emphasizes this sense of place by calling attention to Nick's incongruity. Instead of English names like Stringham, Templer, and Tolland, the reader sees almost alien names, like Gwatkin, Cadwallander, and Idwal Kedward. This makes the reader recognize immediately he is not in familiar territory, while at the same time creating a sense of unity among the Welsh characters. In chapter two, the soldiers sing "Cwm Rhondda," a popular Welsh hymn as they leave their homes as if to carry their Welsh heritage with them. "The men, although departing from their own neighbourhoods and country, were in a fairly buoyant mood. Something was beginning at last. They sang softly...." (39). These soldiers are proud to be Welshmen just as the Ezekiel's soldiers are proud to be Israelites. By creating this world parallel to Ezekiel 37, Powell creates an ethereal and otherworldly aura around war in general. War is certainly not something that touches most of us in a direct way. To those it does touch, it is something completely apart from normal life. Powell's allegory beautifully draws attention to this distinction. Note: [1] "British Army in the First World War." http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWbritain.htm |
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Jimmy Yang This installment of A Dance to the Music of Time provides us, and Nick, with a completely new experience. In The Valley of Bones, Nick is thrust into the army at the beginning of the Second World War, and, with the exception of a few incidental meetings with other characters, must adapt to this whole new world. While he grew up in a military family, Nick's knowledge of military command is rather lacking, and from the get-go, he must learn how to be a soldier from his peers. One man in this chapter stands out has an example of soldiering: Rowland Gwatkin, Nick's commanding officer through most of the book. However, Gwatkin's path as a commander is laden with misfortunes, some of his own creation. These misfortunes culminate in Gwatkin's loss of his command. Nick describes Gwatkin as a "Stendhalian hero" (VB, 218) but retracts this description when Gwatkin loses this command. However, the comparison between Gwatkin, and the heroes of Stendhal's writing perhaps may still be accurate, though Nick does not see it. Rowland Gwatkin is the highest ranking officer around Nick for most of the book, he is very outspoken (perhaps to a fault), he confides privately in Nick, and he has a very distinct personality. The most noticeable aspect of his character is his absolute desire to be a model soldier, a legendary commander like Kipling's centurion. As such, he applies himself greatly to this goal, and diligently studies his books such as "Infantry Training," and the "Field Service Pocket Book." He is unwilling to trust others with many duties, personally overseeing many duties he needn't, and probably shouldn't. Unfortunately, Gwatkin, while diligent, is not without his many faults which get him into all sorts of trouble. For example, he is completely off-track during the company's training exercise. In his infatuation with the local girl, Maureen, he forgets to pass along the new code words to his lieutenants, Kedward and Nick. Lastly he arrests Bithel for "kissing an Other Rank," (VB, 205) and promptly forgets about him the next day. These last two events, together get Gwatkin relieved of his command of the company, and sent to the Infantry Training Center, for reassignment. Perhaps foremost among Gwatkin's faults, and certainly the one most noticed by Nick, is his absolutely unrealistic view of life in the military. He believes that life as a soldier is meant to be about honor, glory, and victory on the battlefield. While such a view desensitizes him to the hardships of camp life, it also means that he loses sight of what it means to be a soldier. "A French writer who'd been a regular officer said the whole point of soldiering was its bloody boring side. The glamour, such as it was, was just a bit of exceptional luck if it came your way.'" (VB, 233) While Nick makes this comment to Gwatkin, Gwatkin seems to take very little note of it. In seeking the glamour, which should only be a chance occurrence, Gwatkin neglects many of the more boring aspects of being a soldier. Marie-Henri Beyle, also known by his pen name Stendhal, was a 19th century French writer who was most famous for his novels The Red and the Black, and The Charterhouse of Parma. (Wikipedia) The Red and the Black follows Julien Sorel, a young Frenchman in the 19th century who, despite the reactionary government in France after the Napoleonic wars, is very liberal. He dreams that he could have been a part of Napoleon's Grand Armee, just as Gwatkin dreams of becoming a great commander. His aspirations, however, are far from his reality. The story begins as Sorel gets a job as a tutor in the house of M. de Renal, the mayor of the humble town in which Sorel lives. While he is living there, Mme. de Renal falls deeply in love with Sorel. Sorel considers it his soldierly duty to seduce her, and the two have an affair. His relationship with her, however, causes problems, just as Gwatkin's relationship with Maureen causes problems for him. While they are in his room, Sorel barely is able to keep Mme. de Renal from finding a painting of Napoleon that he keeps, which would expose his Bonapartist sentiments. Eventually, word of the affair gets out, and Sorel is forced to leave Mme. de Renal (as Gwatkin has to leave Maureen) so that he may go to Paris and study to become a priest, before M. de Renal finds out about their relationship. (4Literature) While Gwatkin's career may have received a setback, he may yet have the course of a Stendhalian hero before him. Gwatkin's optimistic view of the nature of the military and his dreams of becoming a great commander mirror Julien Sorel's dreams of being a Napoleonic soldier. His relief of command seems like Julien Sorel's escape to Paris. Stendhal's stories depict characters that mature in recovering from a great setback, though they may not achieve their original, idealistic dreams. Julien Sorel never becomes the great soldier he wanted to be, but at the end of The Red and the Black, he dies satisfied, since he has experienced true love, the lives of both commoners and nobles, and so many other things that a common man could never experience in a single lifetime. (4Literature) If we meet Rowland Gwatkin again, he may not have become the great commander that he wishes to be, but perhaps he will have had his own, unique experience. Literature Cited "Red and the Black by Stendhal." 4Literature. 26 Feb. 2008 "Stendhal." Wikipedia. 24 Feb. 2008 |
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Mike Donelan War changes people. It draws them away from home, putting them in extraordinary circumstances which affect them mentally, emotionally, and physically. Some are affected more than others, as is the case with Captain Rowland Gwatkin. It is assumed he had some fine qualities that led him to begin basic training with the rank Captain. One does not achieve this rank without exhibiting an above average ability to lead and command troops. As time moves on, these skills or whatever his commanding officers saw was promising in him are no longer evident. Throughout A Valley of Bones we see him gradually lose focus for a number of reasons, losing the ability to act on his own accord. From his ineptitude acting as a field officer to his incapacity to ask out a woman, we see him digress until he must fully rely upon others to make decisions for him, which is the he fails as a Captain. From the start of the thirty-six-hour Divisional exercise mandated by Major-General Liddament we see him slowly losing his capability to lead. "He nearly left his maps behind. He would have done, if I had not reminded him.'" (VB 76) Kedward, his subaltern, saves him from this making this minor mistake. In one of the first maneuvers the platoon is taking part in he finds a way to very nearly screw the whole thing up before it even begins. Nick proceeds to lead his platoon in the manner Gwatkin had just gone over with them but "finding my Platoon lagging behind Breeze and his men, took them on at greater speed" (VB 78) When he arrives at the rally point, Nick observes that they had lost much time by the "formality of the maneuvering" (VB 78). Gwatkin, however, believes they are right on time, which prompts Yanto Breeze to note they were not in fact on time, but running late and should have been another mile or two along. This is echoed in the message sent by runner some minutes after they've settled into the field. "Gwatkin had done poorly." (VB 79) Captain Gwatkin has not fulfilled his duty so another company must do the job assigned to Rowland. From the beginning of this exercise Gwatkin is unable to make proper decisions by himself. He relies upon his subalterns to remind him of key things such as having his maps, a basic part of maneuvering that requires one to be punctual at precise locations. While there is seemingly only one forgetful act from Gwatkin, the bigger picture is unveiled in his inability to lead his men and follow orders. There is no one who is able to take the reins and right this mistake due to his stature as ranking officer, but it is clear that Yanto Breeze is correct in his discussion of Gwatkin's blunder with Nick. This is the first of many important events where Rowland is unable to get the job done without the assistance of others. Rowland next exhibits his inability to act without seeking guidance, not in a military exercise, but in a social situation. He takes Nick out to the local bar one night, where he introduces Nick to Maureen, the bar's maid, who he is highly interested in. After their drinks, Gwatkin proceeds to pour his heart out to Nick about Maureen and how wonderful she is. Nick asks him if he plans to make anything of the situation and Gwatkin acts very surprised. It is as if the thought had never occurred to him. He would be content to go the bar every night just to talk with Maureen and never take action. This could be because he is married or because he is too afraid. We have already observed one case where a wife has cheated on his husband while he's been away in the army with Sergeant Pendry and it seems Gwatkin does not want to give his wife any reason to leave him. Jenkins seems to think otherwise, and encourages him to put his cards on the table and eventually try to seduce her. Some days later Gwatkin tells Nick he has taken his advice and asked Maureen out. Rowland is extremely pleased and in a chance moment of reflection says "I really want to thank you, Nick, for making me take action - not hang about like a fool. That's my weakness" (VB 198) Right there, in that line, Gwatkin's fatal flaw is revealed. The balls up in the field was a forgivable miscue, and the timidity with which he acts towards Maureen is even less consequential, but the final act has yet to occur, the one that will lead to his ultimate downfall. Gwatkin's final gaff as a Captain is a tremendous one. Nick is on duty in Castlemallock awaiting calls in the Company Office one night when he gets a call from Maelgwyn-Jones and is confounded by what he hears. A mess of passwords, old a new are exchanged, only to reveal that Rowland has completely forgotten to alert his subalterns of the changes in passwords, having the lie in the process telling Maelgwyn-Jones that he is not up to date with the codes either. He reveals that he "went out with Maureen, and forgot I'd never told either of you." (VB 209) This is a small insight into how relations are progressing with her and from this quote one can say that Gwatkin has become dependent on her for ease of mind and happiness. This almost entrancement with Maureen has lead him to have a big mental lapse, one that no matter who he turns to, is all his fault and cannot be corrected by another officer. This incident leads to the coup de grace for Gwatkin. The result of Maelgwyn-Jones's phone call is the company's immediately march on Battalion so everyone must rush around and prepare to leave at once. Amongst the commotion of getting everyone in order and on parade, Gwatkin forgets about Bithel, who was put on house arrest the night before for allegedly kissing a waiter. That Bithel was not under escort is another terrible mistake made by Gwatkin, one that no one else could catch, as preparations to march were made. Little does Rowland know that it will be his last mistake, and his last act as Captain. To be a proficient commanding field officer, one needs to act using intuition and at times spontaneity. As a Captain, Gwatkin does very little of this. He is very keen to do things by the book, as we see him refer to the pages of Infantry Training before proceeding on the first maneuver. This keenness is possibly the reason he was appointed a Captain in the first place but it does not help him when he forgets passwords and leaves people unescorted because he cannot rely on others to take care of these mistakes, which leads to his ultimate failure as a Captain in the Territorials. |