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Robert Westall's The Machine Gunners has an exciting storyline but it is the aspects of the novel, such as its characters, themes and language, which captures and maintains the readers attention. Hence, the novel highlights the experiences and their effect upon juveniles in Britain during the Second World War. This is clearly seen through the novels protagonist, Chas, who undergoes changes in his personality, thoughts and feelings as the experiences bring maturity. With the backdrop of the Second World War looming over the entire novel, Westall is able to highlight the futility of war and the reality of human nature in war as violence brings forth more violence. Set in a northeast seaside town (London) in 1940, The Machine Gunners tells the story of a group of teenagers growing up and learning the human cost of war and what it is really all about when they find a machine gun from a crashed German plane. Westall shows how the environment of war has a dramatic impact upon the lives of children, as the violence of war is imitated by the children on other children.
There is an escalation of gang groups- each desiring to be the best gang. Consequently, there is violence where bullies dominate and their victims suffer. More importantly, parents are unable to curb the situation because they have lost control of their children. They remain ignorant to what is actually going on with their children. This is seen through Chas and his family s relationship, where Chas realizes his parents are helpless in the war and that they could not have done anything to help the war effort, He looked at his father, and saw a weary, helpless middle- aged man.
Dad wasnt any kind of God any more. Consequently, Chas no longer looks up to his parents and does want to listen to them anymore; Hence, it is clear that while the war against the Germans continues, a smaller war is being fought among the children; this clearly shows the wartime surroundings have impacted the lives of teenagers, This wars doing bad things to kids. Chas and his group unearth a German Machine gun along with 200 rounds of live bullets from a crashed Heinkel airplane. Their wartime antipathy towards their enemy is shown by their desire to have a chance to take revenge on the Germans. The children build a resistance or sanctuary with the machine gun mounted on a tripod. A great sense of realism hits their wartime experiences when they capture a wounded German pilot, Rudi.
Despite him being the enemy, they treat him well as their hostage, as they provide him with food and drink. However, the novels anti-war sentiments are clearly shown when a stronger relationship begins to grow over time between the group and Rudi. The initial language barrier is gradually overcome and there is now understanding between them. The boys get to know a lot more about Rudi- especially when he told them stories about his life.
Consequently, the teenagers become very fond of him They didnt feel like guards with a prisoner now. More like a class with a teacher, even a family. Especially the dark one. Hence, the boys see another side to Rudi; he is no longer just their German prisoner but also human being.
Despite the distorted portrayal of the enemy in war- time propaganda, the teenagers are able to differentiate Rudi from British society s wicked stereotypes of the enemy, Hes no sae proper Nazi and Hes not a blond beast. Westall continues his anti- war message through Rudi's reluctance to escape from his captivity and return to the Fatherland. It becomes obvious the impact of war has had an enormous influence on Rudi, as he realizes its futility and no longer has the motivation to fight like a soldier and for the Fatherland. He could not bear to harm the children, and his patriotism towards his Fatherland was dead Rudi felt part of the plot. Who was on whose side?
Had he any loyalty left to the Germans? If he hadnt been shot down, hed be dead by now. Furthermore, Rudi realizes he could not return home because there was nothing left for him there At home, by now, he would be a dead hero. This emphasizes the antiwar theme, which is seen through this person that conveys that everyone is a human- being, no matter who they are or if they are the enemy. Enemies exist only in cases of fear and when there is no understanding between each other.
The friendship between Rudi and the children shows that there is no need for war once there is understanding between each other. Another appealing aspect of The Machine Gunners is the vivid portrayal of the characters, such as Chas and Rudi. Westall effectively shows just how realistic his characters are through their experiences, thoughts and feelings. Chas is a realistic character, an ordinary teenager experiencing the great changes and problems in growing up.
His rather small body size leaves him exposed to constant bullying at school and desperately wants to find a solution to this severe problem But what do you do if youre small? He is utterly outraged by the lack of justice in school because he feels helpless and vulnerable against the bullying at school. The constant suffering, pain and humiliation becomes so unbearable that Chas must seek justice through unorthodox ways, even if it meant breaking the rules, All the hate of all the years, infant school, junior school, boiled up in him. By avenging all those years of being bullied, the irony of justice is rather cruel to him, as he is reprimanded by the Headmaster for his actions. Chas expresses his anger and frustration because no one can understand the reasons behind his act of violence. He learns from his experience that the true aggressors are not always punished and victims often do not find support and understanding.
Hence, Chas must become more tactful in looking for alternative ways to deal with his problems. Chas immense hatred is expressed by his shear determination and will which effectively resists Boddser's revenge finally ends his suffering, by never surrendering to him and never showing his fear. Chas develops an inner strength and determination to resist Boddser's bullying and pressure, and this is clearly shown in his motivation to retain the best collection of souvenirs, which include the machine gun. Furthermore, he shows resilience in resisting Boddser's blackmail to reveal the location of machine gun Usually, by this time, kids were bubbling, begging for mercy, willing to do anything, But McGill wasnt like that. He just went on spitting out swear-words whenever he had the breath. Chas inner strength escalates Boddser's fears that he would never surrender to his intense suffering and a greater fear he might kill him There was no response.
Boddsers got to his feet, suddenly shaking, terrified. What had he done? and McGill was up and gone, running now like a small muddy rat. Boddsers roared with rage and pursued.
Fooled again! in this experience Chas also learns that it is better to sometimes rely on others. This is shown by the final stage in ending Boddser's revenge and years of bullying with the help of his friend Closer who finished him off. Rudi's realism in his character is shown by his inconsistent behavior and personality as a soldier. He expresses lack of motivation and potential in fighting like a soldier, and has a tendency to surrender for a warm meal Rabbit, I envy you, Rabbits live longer than rear gunners. When Rudi is demanded to mend the machine gun he wanted to refuse.
It would be wrong to give children back a gun like that. Because they were still children. In another way, they were no longer children. This expresses Rudi's concern towards the children in using the machine gun, since he thought it was too dangerous for them. Furthermore, Rudi is a realistic character because he is caught between the requirements of his duty to his country and his personal feelings; it would be anticipated that he would have tried to escape the childrens captivity, return to Germany and continue fighting for his country.
The thoughts of escape actually came across Rudi's mind but he realized it was pointless to return to Germany, as his anti-war feelings had become so strong that he did not care for the war anymore. Also, Rudi realizes how lucky he was to be shot down and captured by the children because he probably would have been killed, If he hadnt been shot down hed be dead by now. It is these qualities in his character that enable him to develop a closer relationship with the children; both the readers and the children see a human side to his character full of understanding, patience and warmth. Hence, Rudi's character is an important part of a novel because the children learn the enemy are also people themselves. In conclusion, Westall successfully conveys his novel goes beyond its good storyline.
Not only are readers entertained, they experience what life was like for a teenager growing up in war- time London. While the world of adulthood was destroying itself in the war, children merely modeled themselves on what they saw around them- seen in the increase of gang violence at school. Hence, the fateful meeting of Chas gang and Rudi is seen as a breakdown to all the war- time stereotypes; they develop a friendship that went beyond war and its propaganda. And it is through this friendship that Westall is able to bring out his anti- war themes, as Rudi no longer has the desire to fight in the war and Chas no longer sees adults as heroes. Furthermore, Westall's characters develop throughout the novel, as they learn from each other the importance of friendship, understanding and care for humanity.
They also learn that they depend on each other and should work together for a better world.
Free research essays on topics related to: anti war, machine gun, return to germany, thoughts and feelings, second world war
Research essay sample on Second World War Return To Germany
