IB English Lit A HL - Ms Basel

Theme: Violence

This theme is mostly explored by Yeallend. Yeallend was a partner of Rivers at the national hospital in London. He used electro-shock therapy to treat his patients. Yealland is portrayed as arrogant and uncaring. The electro-shock method was brutal and merciless but Yealland thought that it was useful and it helped the patients. So far Yealland did succeed with his method. He believes that the characters that breakdown during the war are “weak” and says that they would break down in civilian life anyway

Yeallend shows clear violence through his method he used to cure the shell shocked patients. He used the electro shock method which was extremely painful.

“Baaaa! Baaaaa! Baaaaaaa!” pg 232

This quote shows a clear sign of immense pain. This was said by Callan who was getting treated by Yeallend with his electro shock method.

“you must talk before you leave” pg 229

Yealland said this to one of his patients. This implies that Yealland was shore that his electro shock method worked because he would not let his patient go unless he would start talking “Yealland applied the electrode again, continuously.” This again shows how brutal Yeallend was because he did not let his patients leave even if they were in great pain.

“whether you wanted or not” pg 231

This quote was also said by Yealland. This quote shows that Yealland is brutal and does not really care about his patients. It shows that he does not really care about his patients because he gives the treatment to his patients whether they want it or not which leaves the patient no choice and proof Yealland to be careless.