The Long and the Short and the Tall: social context

The Long and the Short and the Tall: social context

Understanding the Social Context

  • Set during WWII, ‘The Long and the Short and the Tall’ explores the social context of war and the impact it has on a group of British soldiers.
  • The play provides insight into the wide range of social backgrounds of the soldiers, emphasising their differences.
  • Characters like Private Bamforth, played as a loudmouth troublemaker, represent the working-class troops, while Sergeant Mitchem reflects the more disciplined and orderly middle-class soldiers.

Reflection of Class Hierarchy and Prejudices

  • The class hierarchy present in British society in the 1940s is observed among the soldiers.
  • This is evident in their interactions, where individuals from lower social classes are often disparaged or overlooked.
  • Private Bamforth, despite his bravery and compassion towards the Japanese prisoner, is marginalised due to his lower-class background.
  • The prejudice and bias displayed among the soldiers is a reflection of the societal attitudes of the time.

Characterisation of Soldiers

  • Each character is representative of different social classes and regional identities within the UK at the time.
  • The various accents, dialects and styles of speech used by the characters offer a lens into the diverse social backgrounds they come from.
  • The tensions and disagreements among the soldiers, brought about by their societal differences, contribute to the dramatic conflict in the play.

Impact of War on Society

  • The play reflects how wartime changes societal norms, specifically how the need for survival can lead individuals to act beyond their usual class or moral boundaries.
  • The wartime setting provides a unique situation where social distinctions become blurred, allowing for unexpected alliances and conflicts.
  • The circumstances push characters like Private Bamforth to step beyond the limitations imposed upon him by society, highlighting the transformative effect of war on individuals.
  • The Japanese prisoner, initially dehumanised due to wartime propaganda, is humanised by Bamforth, showing the potential for overcoming societal prejudices in extreme circumstances.

Influence of Cultural Stereotyping

  • The cultural stereotypes about the Japanese, fuelled by the wartime propaganda of the era, play out significantly in the play.
  • The characters’ initial unanimous decision to kill the Japanese prisoner encapsulates the acceptance of dehumanising the enemy at the time.
  • This, however, is challenged when Bamforth begins to see the prisoner as a human being, illustrating the possibility of overcoming ingrained stereotyping.