no mans land
Despite the stereotype that war was a man’s world, filled with aggression and weapons, women played a vital role to the victory of war. The supportive, nurturing and loyal nature of women proved to be essential for the war effort in “Rilla of Ingleside and also in the poems “The Girl behind the man behind the gun and Our Women.” The traditional domestic role of women also proved vital from the home front. In this essay, I will argue that the events of world war one affected the lives of women just as equally. “Rilla of Ingleside” is one of the few novels that exemplifies the female perspective of war. In this novel, Lucy Maud Montgomery describes the difficulties women experienced during the war. Many women were required to rise to challenges during the war and their contributions were often overlooked. Lucy Maud Montgomery used many characters in order to illustrate the vital contribution made by women during this time. However, the development and transformation of a woman’s role was most evident in the characters of Rilla and Susan. Rilla was a young girl who was forced to face the challenges of war at the age of fifteen. When first faced with the possibility of a war, Rilla could not imagine that this event would become reality. However, Rilla’s role and involvement in the war efforts began to emerge once her brothers are in Europe and she pleads with her mother to help as she cries, “Mother, I want to do something. I’m only a girl-I can’t do anything to win the war-but I must do something to help at home”(52). Just as many women during this time, Rilla developed a Red Cross Organization for the soldiers. This organization allowed women to use their traditional role as house maids in order to protect the men at war. Women in this organization used their domestic duties in order to protect the soldiers on the home front. The main task of the Red Cross was to supply parcels containing soap, toiletries, clothing, and special food for soldiers (www.canadianwarbrides.com). For Rilla, the Red Cross Organization was the beginning of her independence. For the first time, Rilla took charge and her selfish, child-like demeanor was replaced with a caring, nurturing and maternal role. As a young woman, Rilla learned how to use her traditional domestic role to help those on the battlefields. Although she is not directly involved in the war, Rilla also learned that she can have an equally important impact on the war. The continuation of Rilla’s motherly role was also illustrated through the war baby. Rilla had no experience with babies and although frightened by the idea of raising a baby, Rilla triumphed and again proved her maturity as a young woman. The baby, like many others, was a victim of war, and became another challenge for Rilla. Despite her initial dislike for babies, Rilla accepted the responsibility of Jims. Her courage was also acknowledged by Walter “It took more courage for you to tackle that five pounds of new infant, Rilla-my-Rilla, than it would be for Jem to face a mile of Germans” (68). Rilla’s maternal instinct became quite evident in her interactions with Jims. Just as she provided the soldiers with clothes and food, she provided the baby with same needs. Though she did not give birth to Jims, Rilla was a mother to this baby. The fact that baby Jim’s was also a boy and may someday become a soldier and fight in a war, also connected Rilla to the reality of war.