Billy Bishop Goes To War Essay
Billy Bishop Goes to War is one of the most famous and widely produced plays in Canadian theatre, it is a dramatization of the life of Canadian World War I fighter pilot Billy Bishop. The concepts of survival and underdog heroes, as well as the attitudes towards war, are explored in this play. The concepts mentioned above fall into the themes of Personality and Values as well as voices through time, while also strongly relating to the Canadian identity
A prominent theme in Canadian literature and identity is the concept of an underdog hero. Compared to our neighbours, like the United States, or our allies such as Great Britain, it is understandable that Canadians often tell tales of the unexpected hero, the one who, at a first glance doesn’t …show more content…
Billy Bishop Goes to War, is based on a real story told by an actual soldier from WWI. The play gives the reader/audience a glimpse into the attitudes of Canadians about war as well as showcasing Canada’s relationship to the sovereign nation Great Britain in the early 1900’s. The play begins with a song that in essence speaks of the glory and honor that comes with war. Bishop then continues on to say how keen his friends were to enlist in the war. Moreover, as the play goes on the more somber and deadly aspects of war are discovered. For example, the event that finally turned Bishop from killing more enemies was him witnessing the pilots fall to their death. All of this indicates the attitude towards the war that many Canadians held at that time, and is an aspect of our historical identity.
In conclusion, Billy Bishop Goes to War, explores a multitude of complex ideas such as unexpected heroes, survival, heroism, and the varying attitudes towards war. These ideas are enclosed under the themes of personality and values as well as voices through time and are also closely linked to the Canadian identity. Therefore, it should come as no surprise the vast success this play has had nation-wide, as many Canadians will find an aspect they can relate
A prominent theme in Canadian literature and identity is the concept of an underdog hero. Compared to our neighbours, like the United States, or our allies such as Great Britain, it is understandable that Canadians often tell tales of the unexpected hero, the one who, at a first glance doesn’t …show more content…
Billy Bishop Goes to War, is based on a real story told by an actual soldier from WWI. The play gives the reader/audience a glimpse into the attitudes of Canadians about war as well as showcasing Canada’s relationship to the sovereign nation Great Britain in the early 1900’s. The play begins with a song that in essence speaks of the glory and honor that comes with war. Bishop then continues on to say how keen his friends were to enlist in the war. Moreover, as the play goes on the more somber and deadly aspects of war are discovered. For example, the event that finally turned Bishop from killing more enemies was him witnessing the pilots fall to their death. All of this indicates the attitude towards the war that many Canadians held at that time, and is an aspect of our historical identity.
In conclusion, Billy Bishop Goes to War, explores a multitude of complex ideas such as unexpected heroes, survival, heroism, and the varying attitudes towards war. These ideas are enclosed under the themes of personality and values as well as voices through time and are also closely linked to the Canadian identity. Therefore, it should come as no surprise the vast success this play has had nation-wide, as many Canadians will find an aspect they can relate