an analysis of guests of the nation
... their orders. The Central Idea is that war causes people who would otherwise be friends, to become each other’s enemy. There were many well developed characters in the story. The two Englishman are Belcher and Hawkins. Though they are of the same nationality, they are opposite in personality and physical characteristics. Belcher is referred to as “the big Englishman,” while Hawkins is referred to as “the little Englishman.” Belcher “had an uncommon shortness or should I say lack? of speech,” and was most often “stretched into the ashes as usual, with his usual look of waiting in quietness for something unforeseen to happen.” while Hawkins “ talked enough for a platoon” and “learned to dance…as well as any of them…” Belcher is dynamic, as his character changes when he realizes he is about to die, and begins to talk rapidly. The Irishmen included Bonaparte who is the narrator, Jeremiah Donovan, Noble, and Feeney. Bonaparte is the main character, as it is he who experiences the conflict. Noble’s character is seen mostly through his dialogue with Hawkins, over their beliefs. Jeremiah is the soldier that relays the orders to the other Irishmen, and seems to have a strong sense of duty, as he does not consider disobeying the order to execute. Feeney is a flat character, and does not play a significant role in the plot. There are many examples of conflict in “Guests of the Nation,” including the constant bickering between the characters and the understood conflict between England and Ireland, however, the main conflict is an internal conflict that takes place within the characters Bonaparte and Noble. This is shown in greater detail in Bonaparte, as he struggles with the concept of having to kill his friend and his own helplessness. This conflict is never resolved, as afterward Bonaparte states that he felt “very s...