Ernest is a 24 year old soldier in the First World War, who signed up to join the army in February, 1916. He is a clever, principled and loyal man, who was before the war a farmer, slowly taking over from his father, who had been a farmer all his life, but was now finding it increasingly difficult owing to illness and overwork. Ernest is like any man of his period- he married young, looks after his wife, and signed up to fight for his country, despite not really wanting to go, out of fear of losing his wife, Rose.
He is of average height and build, but is stronger than he looks, having worked on the farm for nearly all his life. When a civilian, he wears standard war time, male clothes e.g. trousers, shirt, braces. In the narrative, he has donned civilian clothing- white shirt, black trousers- which he stole from a house when on the run.
Just before he goes to war, he learns that Rose is pregnant. He is overjoyed, and on screen cannot withhold his emotions. In many ways he is a conventional man of the period, and in others he is quite different, which should appeal to a modern audience. He is far less a supporter of traditional roles, class based systems, public appearances etc. For example, he does not care that he will be viewed as a coward, deserter and villain by all of society, as for him, his sincere and overpowering love for Rose transcends all of these societal consequences.
His wife, Rose is one of the only things that keeps him going throughout the war. He makes two promises to her before he goes: that he won’t get shot by a German, and that he will come back to her at Christmas. He is a man of his word and so he simultaneously fulfils them both. When serving, he finds that his wife has died in childbirth. He cannot face life without her and so to be with her he deserts his platoon, knowing that if he is found, he will be executed by his own army, thus fulfilling both promises. He times it so that he is shot in December.
On his death, the audience should feel a certain catharsis; the sense of loss and the indignity and immorality of the soldiers shot at dawn should become almost an underlying issue which is confused and overpowered by the idea that he is happy in death- he is to, in his mind, be reunited with his wife- following her in death.
Rose Beeby
Rose Beeby is a 23 year old housewife of Ernest. She is less educated than Ernest, as is the custom, but no less head smart. She has blonde hair, average height, average female figure. She wears standard teen dresses, with simple patterns as was the fashion. She is a good and dutiful wife, and holds a love as sincere as Ernest’s for her. She is terrified of Ernest going to war. By now war has become less glamorous in England and people are more aware of the risks involved. Conscription will soon be introduced.
Rose constantly seeks Ernest’s approval, and worries about his reactions e.g. when she tells him she’s pregnant. Other than appearing sincerely in love with Ernest and utterly devoted to him, her role in the actual film will be fairly little. The romance between her and Ernest is uncomplicated and pure- a perfect, domestic, life in the teens. She too holds Ernest’s disregard for normal social boundaries in terms of society’s judgement of her.
When Ernest is away at war, she lives an almost hermit life existence, staying in most of the time- the only real human contact she has is with Ernest’s father, George, who she enjoys the company of because she reminds him of Ernest. She is almost paralysed by fear of losing Ernest.
She dies in childbirth, due to complications with the birth and insufficient medical attention. She was buried in her local churchyard.
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