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princessleia4life 's review for:
Regeneration
by Pat Barker
By blending real figures with fiction, Pat Barker presents a view, through her novel Regeneration, into the world of mental illness of soldiers during World War I. While the back of the novel informs the reader that the book will be about Dr. W. H. R. Rivers attempting to help Siegfried Sassoon “regain” his sanity so that he can return to the armed forces; in actuality all of the main characters go through a process of regeneration. Just as Dr. Rivers had taken part in an experiment with regenerating feelings in destroyed nerves, each character has to go through a journey of reawaking emotions to come to a complete healing.
Dr. Rivers is supposed to be the healer and the one observing and repairing the broken souls; but as we see throughout the novel that Dr. Rivers himself is in need of help. He is worn down, physically ill, and doubting his own sanity and methods as his dreams become more and more rought with secret fears. Not until Dr. Rivers returns home and confronts the demons of his past, coming face to face with how he treated his father and the condemnation of his father’s medical practices; is he able to move forward and be more certain in his life.
Sassoon is the newest addition to the institution, having been sent there for his anti-war sentiments. While at first he is resistant to the doctor and the healing process, through the doctor’s careful prodding he comes to the realization that he can’t distance himself from those he loves in the trenches, and has to return to help them. His companionship with Wilfred Owen is another part of his healing process, as he encourages Owen to use his experiences of the war in his poetry, telling Owen that only by releasing his feelings will he be better artistically and mentally; subsequently realizing that he (Sassoon) cannot hide away what he took part in. This expression and companionship helps heal not only Owen, but Sassoon as well.
Billy Prior is the patient that is the most resistant to any type of treatment at Craiglockhart War Hospital. Not only does he try to keep himself closed off from the doctor and the other invalids but he also becomes combatable in an attempt to anger or annoy those tying to delve deeper into his psyche. Anytime that one is making headway in having him start to express emotions, he immediately shuts down, determined to reject all lifesavers thrown at him. As Prior starts to form what he thought was going to be a temporary relationship with Sarah Lumb, she begins to awaken that lost side of him and causes him to look toward his past. This revitalizing scares him, and at first he does everything in his power to foil that relationship. In the end through the combined efforts of Sarah and Dr. Rivers, Prior realizes that expressing his emotions doesn’t make him weak, but in fact a stronger man.
In contrast, two minor characters, David Burns and Dr. Anderson never travel that road and therefore never achieve healing. Burns is scared and ashamed of his emotions; choosing to live in silence and suffering than to express what he is feeling. He ends up leaving the institution, but is continuously tormented by what happened in the war. Dr. Anderson shares the same feelings of shame for what he considers as weakness, and suffers from having too much pride to admit that he needs help. Instead of accepting Dr. River’s assistance, Dr. Anderson decides to go it alone, and with the combination of responsibilities of family and his own fears strangling him; he forever also lives in anguish.
Barker presents an interesting view on post-traumatic stress disorder during World War I, but even more fascinating is her delve into the issue of whether expressing emotions and being vulnerable are a sign of weakness or strength. It seems that Barker feels expressing one’s emotions are extremely important in men, and that being detached and holding in one’s feelings is an act of cowardice. Contrary to popular belief, she presents this regeneration of emotion as being an act of bravery and strength, and that for one to be truly courageous thy must not be afraid to allow themselves to be vulnerable and open. That these qualities do not have to be seen as negative or “feminine”, but can also be considered masculine.
Dr. Rivers is supposed to be the healer and the one observing and repairing the broken souls; but as we see throughout the novel that Dr. Rivers himself is in need of help. He is worn down, physically ill, and doubting his own sanity and methods as his dreams become more and more rought with secret fears. Not until Dr. Rivers returns home and confronts the demons of his past, coming face to face with how he treated his father and the condemnation of his father’s medical practices; is he able to move forward and be more certain in his life.
Sassoon is the newest addition to the institution, having been sent there for his anti-war sentiments. While at first he is resistant to the doctor and the healing process, through the doctor’s careful prodding he comes to the realization that he can’t distance himself from those he loves in the trenches, and has to return to help them. His companionship with Wilfred Owen is another part of his healing process, as he encourages Owen to use his experiences of the war in his poetry, telling Owen that only by releasing his feelings will he be better artistically and mentally; subsequently realizing that he (Sassoon) cannot hide away what he took part in. This expression and companionship helps heal not only Owen, but Sassoon as well.
Billy Prior is the patient that is the most resistant to any type of treatment at Craiglockhart War Hospital. Not only does he try to keep himself closed off from the doctor and the other invalids but he also becomes combatable in an attempt to anger or annoy those tying to delve deeper into his psyche. Anytime that one is making headway in having him start to express emotions, he immediately shuts down, determined to reject all lifesavers thrown at him. As Prior starts to form what he thought was going to be a temporary relationship with Sarah Lumb, she begins to awaken that lost side of him and causes him to look toward his past. This revitalizing scares him, and at first he does everything in his power to foil that relationship. In the end through the combined efforts of Sarah and Dr. Rivers, Prior realizes that expressing his emotions doesn’t make him weak, but in fact a stronger man.
In contrast, two minor characters, David Burns and Dr. Anderson never travel that road and therefore never achieve healing. Burns is scared and ashamed of his emotions; choosing to live in silence and suffering than to express what he is feeling. He ends up leaving the institution, but is continuously tormented by what happened in the war. Dr. Anderson shares the same feelings of shame for what he considers as weakness, and suffers from having too much pride to admit that he needs help. Instead of accepting Dr. River’s assistance, Dr. Anderson decides to go it alone, and with the combination of responsibilities of family and his own fears strangling him; he forever also lives in anguish.
Barker presents an interesting view on post-traumatic stress disorder during World War I, but even more fascinating is her delve into the issue of whether expressing emotions and being vulnerable are a sign of weakness or strength. It seems that Barker feels expressing one’s emotions are extremely important in men, and that being detached and holding in one’s feelings is an act of cowardice. Contrary to popular belief, she presents this regeneration of emotion as being an act of bravery and strength, and that for one to be truly courageous thy must not be afraid to allow themselves to be vulnerable and open. That these qualities do not have to be seen as negative or “feminine”, but can also be considered masculine.