How the extract on pg 202 – 205 represents a lack of change in attitudes toward men and sexuality

This extract suggests to the reader that the society during that time were resistant to change and don’t like to accept deviation from the norm. This is shown when Sassoon was talking to Rivers about what Graves was telling him about their friend Robert. He said, “ he was arrested for soliciting.” This suggests to the reader that homosexuality during this time was illegal; moreover it also implies that people were afraid of homosexuals because they arrested him to keep him contained. The idea of containing homosexuals is also present when Sassoon said that he had to Charterhouse to be “cured.” The word “cured” suggests that the society saw homosexuality at that time a disease and they were afraid that the might become infected themselves, so they kept him away from society.

The idea that the society cannot accept this change but may be creating homosexuality between men is seen when Sassoon said this, “After all, in war, you’ve got this enormous emphasis on love between men – comradeship – and everybody approves. But at the same time there’s always this niggle of anxiety. Is that the same kind of love?” This is a very interesting quote because when the soldiers are at war, great stress is placed on their “comradeship” towards each other but homosexuality is illegal. This therefore suggests that the people, such as officers and generals, are almost urging them to think about their fellow soldiers in a certain way which is very similar to the way homosexual men think about other men, however they shouldn’t give into homosexuality. The theme of love between men is a very common and prominent theme in the novel.

Homosexual men are also seen as traitors to the society and may not be reliable. “The names of 47,000 eminent people whose private lives make their loyalty to their country suspect.” The word “eminent” suggests that these people were important; probably officers in the war, but their trustworthiness was in question. This therefore suggests to the reader that homosexual men are seen as defects to the society because of their unconventional behavior. Moreover, the society at that time also thought that men having feelings for other men were very feminine. Woman during this period were seen as weak and dependent on men, so a man with woman qualities may not be trusted to do tasks because they are incapable to do it themselves.

Due to the fact that homosexuality was illegal during that time, many people such as Rivers tried to redirect people from this frame of mind in order to protect them from the society’s rules. Rivers said this to Sassoon, “Its time you grew up. Started living in the real world”. This phrase is important because it suggests how there are a few people in the society who are willing to accept this change, or new idea, but cannot and have to try and protect these people before they are arrested. Rivers is one of these people accepting this change but told Sassoon to “live in the real world” which suggests to the readers that the world Sassoon was living in is was a fantasy could not become concrete in the society they were living in. The “real world” was where people couldn’t be homosexuals, especially military officers, like Sassoon and he would have to suppress his emotions if he were to survive in that kind of society.