In Regeneration, What do you learn about the relationship between officers and men? What effect does the war have on masculinity? Why does Rivers wish he was young enough for France?

During the war, the relationships between officers and between men experience a move away from the detached and unaffectionate ones expected by society. The relationships are described as ‘domestic’ and ‘maternal’, connoting gentle and natural feminine traits that nurture people and care for people. Barker highlights the contrast between war brutality and the strong and caring relationships that it facilitates. The contrast illustrates the effect of the war in defying masculinity and breaking down social realism. The contrast between ‘manly activity’ and ‘feminine passivity’ demonstrates the differing expectations of the war and the reality. The expectation of the war was to propel masculinity and bring out strength, fortitude and bravery, but instead, men abandoned the typical meaning of masculinity to bring out caring, nurturing and gentle relationships between each other. It is then emphasised, “No wonder they broke down” and this shows how men suffered a great deal because their expectations of the war did not match the reality. Their loss of masculinity contrasted to the masculine growth that they anticipated and this fuelled shame, disappointment and confusion. The passage highlights some of the expectations and the sense of adventure that young boys had about entering the war and how this fuelled their unrealistic expectations and led to their breakdown. It is implied that young boys saw adventure and thrill in “waiting to be killed” when in reality there was nothing but brutality and trauma. Arguably, Rivers feels envy for the youth who can enter the war because he wishes to embark on a journey that will liberate him from society’s expectations of masculinity. He wants to be able to form the close and nurturing friendships. This alludes to homosexuality and the consideration that Rivers wishes to share intimacy with men.