This document provides analysis of a quote from Chapter 9 of Pat Barker’s ‘Regeneration’. This is useful for A-Level English Literature students either studying this novel or looking to improve their analysis of quotes.
The phrase ‘tugged at his tie’ has connotations of pulling This phrase suggests that Rivers is battling a moral dilemma as the
something. It has a more violent suggestion to it which suggests focus seems to be on him looking at himself. The literal idea that he
that Rivers is struggling with something. The fact that it is at his ‘caught sight of himself in the looking-glass’ tells the reader that he
‘tie’, which could be argued to be a symbol of the fact he works a is looking at his reflection in the mirror. This could be argued to
job away from the frontline, could suggest that Rivers is battling an represent the idea that Rivers is reflecting on himself and his own
internal conflict about his own role in the war and his own moral moral standpoint about the war and suffering of soldiers. The
battle about how he makes the men relive their suffering. This is choice of ‘himself’ as opposed to mentioning his reflection directly
emphasised by Barker as the alliteration draws attention to this draws attentions to RIvers which suggests that he feels culpable for
phrase, alerting the attention of the reader to this idea the continuation of the suffering of the men under his care.
The question ‘What am I supposed to do with this gobstopper?’ refers to Prior’s previous words during his hypnosis. Rivers is
thinking about what Prior said previously. The ‘gobstopper’ refers to an eye and has a double meaning. On one hand it can be
literally interpreted as describing the spherical shape of the eye. The choice of ‘gobstopper’ also explores the consequences of
Prior seeing the eye. A ‘gobstopper’ is a piece of boiled candy that stops you from being able to speak whilst you eat it. This
suggests that the eye is the reason for Prior’s mutism and his inability to speak. The fact that Rivers is reflecting on this could
suggest that he feels culpable for making Prior relive this as he agreed to hypnosis. It also furthers the idea of Rivers’ internal
conflict as his mind is reflecting on words his patients have said and he is struggling to let go of the struggles of his patients. This
suggests that he is facing a moral dilemma surrounding the continuation of suffering - morally he believes the war is wrong yet it is
his duty to get the men fit to send back to the frontline.
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