

The Kipling family is still searching for information about Jack several years after first being told that he was missing, which demonstrates the profound grief felt by families back at home. The play also deals with the long term affects of war. The change in Rudyard’s view of the war as the play progress represents the impact of WW1 on the public’s opinion of war. The juxtaposition between Rudyard and Carrie’s opinions over Jack’s death shows the two prevailing views of war at the time – one of glory, and one of pessimism.

Act 1 Scene 3: Elsie tries to comfort Jack after he fails the medical and finds out the real reasons that Jack wants to join the army.

After, Jack fails the eye exam miserably and is screened out
