The Long and the Short and the Tall: characters

The Long and the Short and the Tall: characters

Overview of Characters in ‘The Long and the Short and the Tall’

Sergeant Mitchem

  • As the leader of the patrol, Mitchem carries the heavy responsibility of making the unpopular decisions.
  • His authority is challenged throughout the narrative, particularly by Bamforth.
  • Despite being a seasoned soldier, Mitchem is still capable of showing compassion and ethics in the middle of war.

Corporal Johnstone

  • Johnstone is Mitchem’s second in command and is loyal to him.
  • He presents a representation of soldiers who blindly follow authority without questioning the morality of actions.

Private Bamforth

  • Bamforth serves as the main voice of dissent, often questioning authority and protocol.
  • Despite his initial antagonism towards the Japanese soldier, he becomes his best advocate, illuminating the play’s theme of humanity transcending national boundaries.
  • Bamforth’s transformation highlights the play’s key point about the potential for an individual to change even under dire circumstances.

Private Whitaker

  • As a young and inexperienced soldier, Whitaker perfectly illustrates the lack of preparedness and naivety some soldiers faced during wartime.
  • His character serves as a foil to the more experienced men, providing a stark contrast which further emphasizes the harsh realities of war.

Private Evans and Smith

  • Both Evans and Smith are experienced soldiers who believe in the necessity of following orders. However, throughout the play Evans reads the bible, and they struggle with the morality of executing a prisoner of war.
  • While neither character is as dramatic as Bamforth, they represent the average soldier, dealing with the conflicting demands of war.

Japanese Soldier

  • As the only non-British character, the Japanese soldier represents the ‘other’ - the enemy.
  • However, throughout the play, he is humanised, primarily by Bamforth’s interactions with him.
  • He serves as a catalyst for the rest of the characters’ emotional journeys even though he does not speak their language.
  • His character embodies the main theme of the play: war is not just about nations, but about individuals.