Ardell serves as Hummel's conscience and alter-ego, as well as the reader's projected voice of rational inquiry about constructs of war and masculinity. Although Ardell is Hummel's guide throughout the play, his intentions are often ambiguous; Ardell frequently chastises Hummel for behaving foolishly, yet he also empathizes with Hummel's emotional pain and confusion. Nonetheless, whether overtly rebuking or encouraging Hummel, Ardell's overarching objective is always supportive. Ardell wants Hummel to make individualistic choices that are not governed by a desire to please or a sense of duty. For example, when Hummel voluntarily returns to duty after his first injury instead of asking for a release, Ardell berates him for prioritizing vain action over his own life. In addition, before Hummell attempts suicide by over-dosing on aspirin, Ardell demonstrates genuine understanding of the desire to escape the war and the pressures of fulfilling external expectations of being a man and a soldier; Ardell tries to teach Hummel that suicide is an avoidable response to feelings of inner emptiness and futility.
The hyper-masculine Sergeant Tower is an effective foil for the ineffectual, self-doubting Hummel. Tower is Hummel's commanding officer in basic training and frequently punishes Hummel for disobedience or for not measuring up to expectation by requiring him to do extra physical conditioning. Tower's primary objectives are to create strong soldiers and turn wimps into men through forceful language and harsh discipline. In this sense, Tower is interested in helping Hummel transform from underdog to 'real' man. However, unlike Ardell, Sergeant Tower does not offer the vulnerable Hummel emotional support or sympathy as that would be considered 'unmanly'.
No comments:
Post a Comment