Friday, February 11, 2011
Letters Home
On pages 212-213 of Birdsong are letters that some of the men wrote in the hours before the impending battle. What does each letter reveal about the writer and the war? You should consider also what the narrator tells us about Stephen and Byrne on these pages. Look at the kinds of details the writers include in the letters. It seems to me that what they choose to write about shows, in this time of great stress and uncertainty and fear, what they really value.
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Most of the letters are thanking their parents for the mental and physical support they have always given them and that they are giving them now. Each one wanted to give comfort to their parents letting them know that they are o.k. and they talked optimistic about beating the enemy. Sadly, they really believed they would, but that would not be the case because they themselves were set up.
The narrator gives a good indication of how supportive Byrne was by him reassuring Tipper not to worry and the narration shows how emotionally upset Stephen was over the entire situation and how he had suppressed his emotions over the situation with Isabelle because that is who he chooses to write to instead of his guardian.
Most of the letters are addressed the parents. Some of the soldiers choose to thank their parents for everything they have done. In the letter written by Weir he casual speaks about the battle that will happen tomorrow. It seems he is more concerned with issues at home; laundry, and other friends passing, when he himself has a good chance of being killed tomorrow. The letter written by Tipper seems a less educated and formal than the letters written by the other men. He writes he is not frightened about tomorrow because he is going to make his parents proud. Firebrace’s letter is concerned with the death of his son, and how he was a blessing. He also mentions that they will win the war tomorrow. He seems to have a positive attitude but hi extremely preoccupied. Stephen chose to write to Isabelle because he has no one else to write to. He describes his physical and emotional feelings about what is going to happen. Byre letter was short and the point, he hopes it see you soon and not good-bye.
Weir starts off talking about the war but then spends a good deal of the letter talking about his parents life away from the war. I think this shows his need to not think about the war, even though he talks a big game like the war will be easy he doesn't want to discuss it because he's terrified. It also shows how much he cares about his parents and loves them. Tipper seems detached from his parents like his relationship wasn't that great, but he still thanks them because they did raise him. He talks about the war for most of the letter and it's all positive things. Then when you get to Stephen's letter it's just depressing. He tells you how he still feels about Isabelle and how her leaving him did really hurt him. And in all this pain it lets us know that his real fear is being alone and dying with nobody around who cares about him. Jack's letter is all about his son, and it tells us that he couldn't care less about this fight. He only wants to be home. Byrne's letter is short, sweet, and to the point which leads me to believe he's not worried at all and he's very confident. Everyone except Stephen is so confident about this fight and the letters definitely show where their values lie.
In most instances it seemed like even though the soldiers were scared, they did not want their families to worry about them. they wanted to sound optimistic in order to help their families not panic. Aside from Stephen who wrote to Isabelle and is upfront and honest about being frightened to die, the rest of the soldiers didn't seem to want to talk much about that. More so they spoke about a lot of none significant things as if to play down the fact that they could die at any moment. Hope was all these men had to hold on to.
The men, who write these letters, write to the ones they love most. Some wrote to their families and others to their lovers. In the letters I feel that each and every one of them is scared. They write to make themselves feel better. It seems to me that it makes them feel really good that even though they may die, they have someone out there that they love and that loves them back. Stephen’s letter is heartbreaking because he really has no one to make him feel better because he knows his letter won’t reach the one he loves, but he writes anyway to make himself feel better. Byrne is scared too, but tries to comfort Tipper. They realize that it may be the end and that they want to get their last words out and to have comfort that everything will be ok.
For me, the letters stand out, not to who the soldiers wrote to, but how they wrote them. For the most part, as in any letter, we recieve the love and compassion towards the family member or friend. However, the more important note is how the soldiers keep the gory details out of the picture. The hiding of the war leads to two aspects: those who think the war is for good, and those (the soldiers) who think they are in one giant hell hole. And we say euphemisms are bad?
All the letters are written for loved ones. Michael Weir and Tipper write to their parents and Tipper expresses how agonating it is to wait for the attack to begin. Firebrace writes to his beloved wife explaining to her how much he thinks about their child who has sadly past away. Ted writes to his brother, but his letter is different from others. It is very short and to the point, he basically tells his brother to remember him to his friends if he were to die, unlike everyone else, they write reasuring their loved ones that they are well and hope that everything goes good, when Ted mentions the possibility of death. Stephen seemed overall emotional as he has no one to write to and finaly decides to write to Isabelle since she is someone he truly loved and feels comfortable writing to, although she may never receive the letter. The narrator shows how Byrne is very supportive towards others, reasuring that things will go well and for them not to put much worry into the thought of the attack (possible death).
The letters each show what the soilders find true value in. Just silent written words that are written away from the war fronts. Wier considers his family, his parents and their life since he’s been gone- most of his letter disregards the tragedies of war and focuses on the positive. He depicts the war as something casual, nothing to be afraid of- this is to hide the fact that he’s terrified. Firebrace writes only about the death of his son, his apathy for the war, and his desperate desire to just go home. Tipper seems to be writing his letter just to let his parents know he’s alive- his letter is not THAT intimate. Stephen, however, decides to write to Isabelle. He lets her know that she hurt him really bad and he talks about his fear of war and dying alone…he feels shes the only one he can talk to. Despite their fears, all except for Stephen want to let their loved ones know that they are fine and confident- thus implying that they don’t want their family to worry, even if they might know that they might be doomed.
Comment to Robert
You are correct. Stephen is talking about how scared he is and the others and trying to be cool and calm. Isn't it ironic that he is normally the one cool and calm and reassuring everyone else and here he changes his entire demeanor. Here, Stephen actually opens up and talks openly to Isabelle more than he has openly expressed any of his feelings to anyone. The twist is, though, he actually keeps saying she may not get the letter, so that may be why he can talk so freely, he feels like he is just talking to himself.
Comment to Jeremy
I realize that the soldiers left out the gore and death they see every day when writing to their families. I think they did this so that their loved ones would not worry as much. I also feel that even if they did write all those gruesome details, their families still would not truly understand what the soldiers are going through. It is just like when Weir went home and his family tells them they read the papers, they know what it is like. But no one really knows what is happening except those who live it every day.
Comment to Jeremy
I realize that the soldiers left out the gore and death they see every day when writing to their families. I think they did this so that their loved ones would not worry as much. I also feel that even if they did write all those gruesome details, their families still would not truly understand what the soldiers are going through. It is just like when Weir went home and his family tells them they read the papers, they know what it is like. But no one really knows what is happening except those who live it every day.
Comment to Jordana
I agree with you in the fact that they try to show their love ones that everything is normal, and the war is “casual.” They want to assure their families that everything is fine even if the soldiers don’t believe it themselves. But like you said what they are writing is very different from what they are actually feeling. They all are very scared and they are thinking about the horrible things yet to come. It is like this for all the men except Stephen. I believe Stephen acts tough for his men. His men come to him with their fears but for Stephen, he has no one. He can't let his men know he has fear. That is why his letter has more truth about his feelings at the moment because he has no one to talk about them.
Comment to Lis:
I like how you pointed out that Byrnef tells them not to worry much about the attack. It's like he knows the outcome so it's pointless to tell them the chances of them surviving are rare. So he lies to them, and in return I really think some of them lie to themselves. Because there are a couple that sound confident about the war, but then again the words to their parents are very final. Like subconsciously they know this may be the end.
Comment to Dakota:
You are right. they are all petrified. and it was sad that stephen had no one else but Isabelle to write to...but did it not serve him right for stealing another man's girl?
Comment to Jordana,
I agree with your comment on what each of the characters write about. How Wier and Firebrace write to their loved ones in confidentiality and say that everything will turn out good, not to worry for them. However, Stephen's is the one that yes indeed, is the writing of a lonely soldier. And this all just goes back to some of the poems we have read about how back then, soldiers didn't want to tell people about the war because they'd either not want to worry them or they'd think that people would just not want to know about he gruesomeness of the war, even though Wier, Firebrace, Stephen and others know/feel that the end/death may be coming pretty soon.
-lisbeth
The soldiers write their letters to the ones they love. Michael Weir wrote to his parents explaining that their morale is high, and for them to not to worry about him. This letter seems that the war is going well for them, and that Weir isn't scared of the war. Tipper also wrote to his parents telling them that he misses his home and to send him a picture of his place back home. Stephen wrote to Isabelle. Stephen explains to her that he loves her and that he is afraid of death. He chooses to write to Isabelle because she is the only one that he can tell his weaknesses to, because he doesn't want his men to see that his morale is low.
Almost all of the letters are to their loved ones telling them that they are doing good. This gives their families a piece of mind, kowing everything is ok. Everything they say is not so true though, as the was gets gruesome. There are different emotions that go through the minds but Stephen's were shown more. He chose to write Isabelle instead of his loved ones,
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