How is the idea of the patriarchs presented in Regeneration?

The world of the novel is closely monitored and there is an expectation that all men should be patriarchal within their own environment. Barker portrays a patriarchal society through her three main protagonists being Rivers, Sassoon and Prior. At first Barker leads the reader to believe that patriarchs are men from a higher class, as depicted by Rivers and Sassoon. Both these men came from the middle class and worked in an occupation with great authority. Although a character from the ‘working class’ like Prior challenges this idea within such a society, seeing as he is employed in a middle class occupation. This involves him being the leading authority of his unit within the war. This idea of a controlled society stems from the government, whom is faceless. By representing the power holder as an unidentified figure, the protagonists are unable to single out the government to rebel against it. Therefore the characters are able to direct their frustrations and insubordination to individuals within society and themselves, rather than a leading authority.

Barker presents the concepts of a patriarchy through characters and uses the characters to defy the typical ideas enforced. Yet she makes them have an element of submissiveness and conformity to society. This society is represented as a whole but is being challenged by individuals. A prime example is Billy Priors family. His father is a patriarch within the confines of his family but he is not within society because he was born into the ‘working class’. It is evident that Mr. Prior follows the stereotypes inside society that have been formed by the government, to control society. On the other hand Prior has attained an occupation that involves him being a patriarch, yet he has an inner desire to rebel against the institution. As portrayed through the protagonist’s, patriarchy is depicted on both an individual level and as a whole society.

Posted By Lauren Carr

Barker's Presentation of People's Attitudes

Pages 202 – 205

In these extracts Barker presents a lack of change in attitude towards men and sexuality as established through Rivers conversation with Sassoon as they question Graves’s reaction to his old friend’s homosexuality.

As Sassoon discovered about Graves response to the fact that his friend is homosexual, he felt hurt as it meant that Graves made so explicit that it was “disgusting”. He also underwent a feel of disappointment in him as a friend- someone who was there for him and supports him, was now looked in a different perspective because of his closed minded opinion about homosexuals. As we know Sassoon is also homosexual so for a Graves to react that way made him feel like the person he came to knew didn’t turn out at he expected it to be. There friendship was possibly built on a lie and Sassoon impression of Graves has now changed, as if he didn’t know him anymore.

Sassoon thought of the homosexual situation was growing more tolerant but that was proven wrong as Graves friend was sent to a psychiatrist to be “cured” as if being a homosexual was a mental illness. This made him upset and oppose to what other people think. What is interesting is that even with the war going on, already being the worst thing that could happen, lost of lives the discussion of being a homosexual was still looked as if it were a sin. Rivers explains to him and makes it clear that there is a right and wrong kind of love between men. Rivers tries to protect Sassoon by advising him to keep his homosexuality a secret and not present himself fully or else he may even be considered as an enemy of his own country.

Posted By Ann Mayo-Smith

How is the idea of patriarchs (and patriarchy) presented in Regeneration?

The idea of patriarchs is presented by the characters in regeneration, and especially through the characters of Rivers and Sassoon. Sassoon an officer and so is of high rank and demands respect. With this we can see how strong men receive such high posts and can thus voice out opinions which Sassoon does right at the start of the novel through his declaration. Rivers is another character who is used to present the ideas of patriarchs. Rivers is the head of Craig Lockheart and so people look up to him and seek guidance from him which shows how those of elevated status are respected.

Prior's dad is another character who is used in regeneration to how patriarchy, he is the head of the family and is very demanding and dominant over Prior although he is of working class and so in the rest of society he is relatively low in the positions of power. This explores how the position in society almost decides ones position in the patriarchal system. Trough the characters in Regeneration it explores how the patriarchal system is differrent for everyone and in one instance they may hold power but in the next be powerless, in Prior's dad's instance and it also portrays how there are different extremes of patriarchy and people use it differently, Rivers uses it to help others while Sassoon uses it to voice his opinions.

How is the idea of Patriarchs and Patriarchy presented in Regeneration

In Regeneration, a very negative view is placed on stereotypical ideas of patriarchs and patriarchy. We are shown how men who do not fit the stereotypical idea of a patriarch, can be just as masculine and brave in their own way. For instance, the patriarchs in Regeneration which do not fit into their role are Rivers, Prior, Sassoon. They are all in charge of a group of people in some way, but are not regarded as the most masculine. In regeneration, a person's class plays a large role in whether they are regarded as a patriarch and how respected they are, the one exception is Prior, who comes from a working class, but who's father is of a lower class, and yet he is an officer.Barker may of chosen these 3 characters as the protagonist to outline how Patriarchs should be regarded as, as these men don't only govern their decisions with vengeance as the government do, instead they have morals and can empathise with the men fighting the war and the people in their society. Barker chooses not to represent the government throughout regeneration with a single figure, instead of with a mass of invisible faces labelled as one, to outline how controlling a patriarchal society is, as we cannot make out where they are to stand up to them, so society is helpless and outnumbered, and are forced to obey the laws created by those patriarchs. In regeneration, the idea that women are more powerful or just as strong to men is also risen, as the women have taken over male jobs, and are initially fuelling the war, when the men are being diagnosed with war neuroses, and undergoing bed rests, however this may not be the suggestion that women are stronger, just that maybe there should be a sense of equity in a social organisation, rather than being governed by one filled with men and their ideology.

What do you think Barker's views are on patriarchs and patriarchy?

I think Barker obviously is not fond of the idea that men feel they must control everything to pose their "rightful" authority on the rest of the world's population. She seems to be a kind of revolutionist, defying authority that has been given to them by "divine" right because of their sex.
In Regeneration Barker blatantly defies this patriarchy in Edwardian England by showing broken men (soldiers returning from war e.g. Anderson, Prior etc...) and men sometimes dominated by women strength (as Prior is shoved away violently by Sarah). We also find that all patriarchs have something in common, an important status whether it be middle class or upper class therefore making working class people like Prior to oppose the patriarchy himself (even though he is himself a man). I did not like this as it Showed Barker's desperate side to opposing today's patriarchal world and it also stereotypes that the working class actually care too much about their own background and fear the upper classes judgments.

I believe she has failed in making her views towards patriarchy clear enough for a simple reader to understand her hidden points behind her character. However it is blatant that she tries to represent most of these patriarchal figures in a dark light. Yealland for example has a patriarchal shadow over the soldiers but tortures them with electricity as his "cure" for war-neurosis. The government itself is shown as a being an obscure organisation set out to destroy the soldiers' individuality by picking some of Sassoon's poems very carefully like "The General" ridding of himself of soldiers who may be spreading low morale.

How is the idea of patriarchs (and patriarchy) presented in Regeneration?

In Regeneration, there is an idea that the class in which a person is in plays a role in how a person is classified as a patriarch, and part of the patriarchy. Such characters would be Rivers and Sassoon, who both are part of a higher class and are patriarchal figures. Sassoon led a frivolous life before the war began, and it can be assumed that his status allowed him to become an officer during the war. There is a sense that patriarchs are able to voice out their opinions, which Sassoon clearly does in the very beginning of the novel with his declaration. Rivers is a patriarchal figure at Craiglockhart, where patients seek him for help, in particular Sassoon and Prior who confide in him and see him in a paternal manner. Rivers is also part of the Board, which decides on whether or not a patient is fit enough to return to battle, indicating that he does have a lot of power and authority.

However, there are a few exceptions to this, in particular Prior and his father. In the beginning of the novel, we find that before the war, Prior had been part of the working class; however his job involved him interacting with those in the middle/ upper class. In addition to that, we find that despite Prior’s low status, he had been an officer during the war, in charge of his fellow soldiers. Prior’s character believes that the idea of class is just based on being born into a particular division, and despite this, he looks down on the working class since he has had good education. Prior’s father is a patriarchal figure in his working class division, carrying himself with confidence and authority, even with other people (as seen with the meeting between Rivers and Mr. Prior). Both Prior and his father are not afraid to voice their opinions and thoughts, despite the fact that the one they are speaking to is Rivers, who is of a higher class than both of them.

The idea of patriarchy is presented in Regeneration as one that consists mainly of the higher class who control the lives of everyone else. The world in which the novel is set in is a much closed minded, controlled place where society does not accept anyone who defies their views, however there are a few characters who do contradict their views, in particular Sassoon, Rivers and Prior.

How is the idea of patriarch (and patriarchy) presented in the Regeneration?

Patriarchy: a social system in which men are regarded as the authority within the family and society. In Regeneration the government highlights the importance of their role and symbolize the patriarchy in society. Although the government is not a single man, it is a collaboration of men who believe they are the authority, the patriarchs of their society; it is their duty to take care of their people.

In Regeneration the men that are of the high social class are qualified to be the patriarchs of society, although Barker does apply this to all her characters. Prior’s father contradicts this ideology as he is of a low social class but is still the patriarchal figure within his own family. Furthermore he does embrace his role as patriarch. We see this when Rivers and Prior’s father meet for the first time. Both patriarchs look down upon each. Similarly Prior’s character also doesn’t fit the stereotype as he is born in the working class but has risen within society. He has earned his title as patriarch because he works as a clerk and later on becomes as officer during the war. During the war we notice that Prior feels superior to his soldiers and almost disapproves of their behaviour. Rivers’ character is a psychiatric doctor at Craiglockhart who has been placed there under government control. His aim is to cure soldiers who have war neurosis and have them sent back to the war. Despite his obedience, Rivers has his own opinion and agenda on matters and deviates from his role and stereotype.

Q2. What do you think Barker’s views are on patriarchs and patriarchy?

Barker’s has very opposing views of patriarchs and patriarchy in that society. She disagrees with the way the social classes were structured and how men of a higher class can have so much power over men of a lower class. Barker makes her ideas evident through her characters because none of the three main characters meet the requirements of patriarchs during that time. Rivers may be a patriarch at Craiglockhart, however he is not a true patriarch because he often thinks that what the government is asking him to do at Craiglockhart is selfish because he cures the soldiers from their war neurosis but then sends them back to the place which made them indisposed. Sassoon is also not a patriarch because he has a clear stance against the government and very subversive. He is also a homosexual and a very emotional character, which was against the masculine ideals of that period. Furthermore, Prior is very much against patriarchy and makes it clear to the reader when he talks about how snobbish and stupid the upper class is. He is also from the working class but was an officer in the war, which shows that he is part of the patriarchy society but at the same time he isn’t. This creates a conflict inside of himself because he is against it but part of it.

Barker’s view of patriarchs and patriarchy is also depicted through the way she presents the government. Barker’s presents the government as very controlling and inhumane. However the government has no face so people cannot attack it and the public doesn’t know where to direct their anger and cannot single out certain people. Barker also never mentions government officials in the novel, which also suggests that the government is not a single person because a person would be more humane to the soldiers and the war would not be carrying on. Therefore, Barker’s views on the patriarchal government are that they are very inhumane and forceful.

How does Barker present patriarchy in Regeneration?

Barker uses Rivers and Prior in particular and their inner conflicts to present a patriarchal society.
Rivers works within and for a patriarchal society. He himself is a patriarch, meaning a father figur for his patients and the head of the institution.
Rivers may also be representative for the majority of the population living within a patriarchal system.
He struggles to obey the rules this kind of society sets on him, but ends up following them anyways.
He questions if their views on masculinity is justified, since he has witnessed all the problems this rigid view caused on his patients, and is also unsure if he should support the war by sending the healed patients back to fight.
This illustrates how most people must have felt. They were surely questioning some views set by society, but ended up following these rules, since that was what society expected them to do.

Prior, unlike Rivers, rebels against the system. He illustrates the negative aspects of the society.
He suffered under the prejudice attached to each class, since he belongs to neither.
His father could not accept that Prior was 'different' to what society expects a man to be, meaning tough and physically strong.
His father's and the society's rigid views and expectations made him suffer a lot and caused him a struggle within him
This only shows that the patriarchal system did cause a lot of harm to individuals and was not tolerant.

Lack of change in attitudes towards men and sexuality

The topic of homosexuality has always been controversial – it is frowned upon by most people and was once considered an illness which may or may not be true, depending on the reader as the opinions vary depending on the person.

The amount of attention and concern Rivers give Sassoon can be easily interpreted as inappropriate as Rivers deliberately visits Sassoon last so he can spend more time with him before his inevitable discharge from Craiglockhart. Rivers was “aware of more going on in the conversation than he could identify”, which suggests that there is some sort of underlined meaning to the conversation that is going on and suggests that there is a lack of change in attitudes towards men and sexuality because the sensitive topic has to be implied as openly speaking of it can lead to unnecessary attention and consequences such as being forced to go on treatment to cure the ‘disease’. Although it may appear as though Rivers simply wishes to talk as a friend to Sassoon and spend time with him before Sassoon goes off to war and risk dying, the fact that there was more than the sum of the conversation implies that the topic is going to change to more sensitive areas.

These extracts represent a lack of change in attitudes towards men and sexuality when Sassoon tells Rivers about his friend, Robert, who has a friend who got caught soliciting near a school due to the fact that the topic of homosexuality did not come from personal experience, but rather from a friend’s friend which shows that the topic is sensitive enough that care must be taken to ensure that steps are taken to distance oneself from the topic should the need arise. Sassoon considers platonic fondness honourable, like most men would, and tells Rivers that Robert reacted with total shock and was devastated as it is likely that Robert deems himself a homosexual himself as he was fond of one even though not in the inappropriate manner. He is also shocked that “he didn’t see it”, which shows that people find homosexuality very distasteful, which represents the lack of change in attitudes. Sassoon describe Robert’s reaction to the news to “walking down a pleasant country road and suddenly a precipice opened as your feet”, which is appropriate as Robert didn’t even suspect his friend was a homosexual until he got arrested, much like walking down a country road, perfectly comfortable then the arrest and the truth is like the precipice opening, which would elicite a strong reaction of shock and perhaps even fear as he can be associated with his homosexual friend which might give people the wrong impression of the fear of people seeing him as they might presume that he was in a homosexual relationship with his friend, much like the fear of falling off the precipice.

Sassoon goes on to tell Rivers that Robert was “very anxious” to tell him that he has no “disgusting” homosexual feelings himself which shows that Robert is fearful of homosexual men and the association he has with it which represents a lack of change in attitudes towards men and sexuality where typically heterosexual men would want to distance themselves from homosexuality due to the fear of being associated with it as it might attract unwanted attention and a lack of partners. Although in the present, society is more accepting of homosexuals, the topic still has a stigma attached to it as well as homosexuals themselves, much like in the old days, but although in those days the situation would be approached much more differently. Sassoon also feels quite amused by Robert’s anxiety and by the news of his friend’s arrest. He compares it to feeling “like a precipice on a country road”, which would be eager for someone to fall in which suggests that Sassoon wants to express himself and yet has to proceed patiently and cautiously because Rivers may not reciprocate his advances which would lead to arrest and treatment.

On page 204, homosexuality is referred to as a condition that is “curable” and that it is only temporary – Robert’s friend was “sent to some psychiatrist or other” to be “cured”. In modern days it is now known that homosexuality cannot be cured but merely suppressed. It is also made known to the reader that homosexuality is punishable by prison as Rivers cautiously inform Sassoon that “it’s better to go to a psychiatrist than prison”. This is a lack of change as some countries today forbid the union of homosexuals and will prosecute them regardless of gender severely. Whilst there are more liberal countries, there are also conservative ones too in addition to religion like Christianity which forbids homosexuality. There is also a lack of change in attitudes towards men and sexuality in the military as punishments is made “crystal clear” for the “other kind” of love. An example of a modern military is intolerant of homosexuals is the United States Military, which give homosexual soldiers unhonourable discharges which led to “don’t ask, don’t tell” notion.

In conclusion, the lack of change in attitudes toward men and sexuality are represented in this extract by the use of underlined meanings and innuendo in conversations, the careful selection of words and the fear of being associated with homosexuality.