Battling against war

I watched Master and Commander last night, which I thought very good.  Russell Crowe had the same kind of authority and presence that Kenneth Branagh had in, and as, Henry V and Shackleton.  He was believable as a leader of men as he was a leader in the context of a discipline, a profession and under Admiralty orders.  In Gladiator he was forced to play a cartoon of a leader  (I hate to think of Mel Gibson in the role of Captain Aubrey, playing the part of a loveable demi-god as he did in that lousy film, Braveheart.) There were grand shots of the ship and the storms, and the sense of the ship being a little planet that floats in the orbit of the oceans’ currents and winds.  Nothing is as wonderful as a sailing ship, its power only that which comes from human muscle and human ingenuity capturing nature’s forces, and nothing so paradoxical that this beautiful piece of technology that requires such skill and courage to manoeuvre, is a man of war and its object is to take on another of its kind.  I haven’t read O’Brian’s books but going by the film you are not spared the horror of sickness, injury and death. 

What a world the men have contrived for themselves, with their cameraderie, the curiosity that at least some have about the strange places they visit, the chance for a fight and prestige and plunder, with music as well and an allowance of rum.  Dr Johnson said that being at sea was like being in prison only with the chance of drowning.  For those press-ganged it must have been so.  But you couldn’t help thinking they were having a fine old time with the only females in their life at sea being the figurehead and the ship herself.

The midshipmen were boys, some of them looking about twelve years old.  Of course in Mansfield Park Fanny Price’s brother William, a midshipman, is not yet twenty and has been at sea for seven years.  He has “known every variety of danger, which sea and war together could offer”,  has tales of “a shipwreck or an engagement” and his promotion to lieutenant is an important part of the story.  (Jane Austen is a very moral writer and her William is full “of good principle, professional knowledge, energy, courage and cheerfulness” – a dream of an officer but under the system he works it is family influence that promotes him).

Her novel that deals with the sailors ashore when the Napoleonic wars are over is Persuasion.  Anne, freed from her insufferable family, marries Captain Wentworth and “the dread of a war was all that could dim her sunshine.  She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm. . .”  But her brother-in-law Admiral Croft says of a young midshipman, “the peace has come too soon” and “if we have the good luck to live to another war. . “  Something of a war-monger, this likable uxorious man.  War is of course his profession and anyone wants to shine at their profession.  I suppose the police would long for crime, if they got promotion and were paid on commission (prize money), as sailors were in those times.

Leaving the wives at home:-

The sailor’s wife,
The fisherman’s wife
Their eyes strained on the sea.

Patrick O’Brian’s series of novels wait for me one day.  I suppose him a realistic writer about the horrors of war but he would not be realistic if he did not make a sea engagement seem exciting, great to reminisce about, and absorbing – and anyone knows that happiness consists in being absorbed in a pursuit.  Enough people like war sufficiently for it to happen.  We are an aggressive and territorial species.

"The National Union of Teachers have voted to oppose military recruitment campaigns in schools that are based on Ministry of Defence "propaganda"."

Paul McGarr, a teacher from east London, said only when recruiting materials gave a true picture of war would he welcome them into his school.

These would have to say: "Join the Army and we will send you to carry out the imperialist occupation of other people's countries," Mr McGarr said.

"Join the Army and we will send you to bomb, shoot and possibly torture fellow human beings in other countries.

"Join the Army and we will send you probably poorly equipped into situations where people will try to shoot or kill you because you are occupying other people's countries.

"Join the Army, and if you survive and come home, possibly injured or mentally damaged, you and your family will be shabbily treated."

That sounds much more of a thrill than working in a call centre or as a shelf-stacker or being one of the lumpenunemployed.  “Bombing and shooting” is what some lads like doing.  (I know some like torturing as well, the little shits.  I remember the boys at my primary school and what they liked to do frogs, say.)

Paul McGarr’s is not the “true picture” either. After the Ministry of Defence recruiters have left with their helicopters and their talk of a great time doing dangerous things with the lads, get some disillusioned veteran with half his face gone to come and anti-recruiting.   But then what sixteen year old kid thinks anything bad can happen to him?

Comments

[Julie]

While Patrick O'Brian does indeed make naval actions seem thrilling at times, I wouldn't say his books glorify war. Captain Aubrey, perhaps, glorifies it, but luckily he has Dr. Maturin at his side to set him straight. Stephen is always talking about how power corrupts and war is horrible. And of course the gory scenes in the orlop, as you pointed out, give him added credence.

Although the movie is for the most part true to the letter & spirit of the books, it doesn't give the whole story. The books are about much more than war -- they are about friendship, music, manners, flora & fauna, and the human condition. There is much humor in the books too, and if you like Jane Austen you should definitely give this exquisite series a try.