Quote:
Originally Posted by flag4
..i think what i was getting at here is the odd/strange sence of playfullness. the Havelock officer is speaking to man who could well kill him. 'why dont you go away?' is the sort of thing you'd say to an idiot at school - he's not worth hitting, he's just an irritant like a fly: but this is a killing machine sending back 'sorry, we have our orders.' its soo dry.
i think the term is Bathos - the irony here is massive: there is an Elephant in the room called Death. and these two soldiers/seamen are having a chat. i can sense the Humanity in both of them. i could guess they are the type of men who could quite easily have a beer together after the war without any hatred for each other, and laugh it off - remaining friends too.
i think its a classic moment, not unlike when the troops played football together in WWI at X-Mas.
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The deepness of your statements has chilled me.
As for anecdotes, I'm currently reading "Diary of a U-boat Commander". It's free on the kindle (The copyright has expired, you can get a Kindle for the PC free too). Interesting POV piece on WWI sub life. Also shows the arrogance and aristocracy present at that time in German culture.