A key concept of masculinity is being a strong protector, that is, protecting your family and your nation. Yet the lyrics "Regeneration" and "How many miles to Basra?" present the thesis that war promotes a distortion of masculinity; a liability. The isolation from the normal social structure and the lack of the model of the two sexes leaves no contrast for the soldiers, causing the stereotypical male ideal to collapse. There is a clear distinction between the setting and circumstances of the two texts. The setting of "Regeneration" is more extreme than that of "How Many Miles to Basra?", in the sense that the horrors of the First World War were more devastating and long-lasting than those of modern warfare. However, comparisons can still be constructed fairly because "regeneration" is tied to society's perception of what and who a man should be; independent, strong, heterosexual and, above all, provider of society. There is extreme pressure from the rest of society to conform to these stereotypes, and when they are not followed in any form soldiers are deployed; whether it be sexuality, moral stance on war, physical or mental conditions. While "How many miles to Basra?" he is more interested in the crisis of masculinity on a personal level. The novel reveals the intertwined relationships between the men in their squadrons, exposing how society has regressed in its acceptance of diversity. The Iraq War is surrounded by controversy and was born out of corruption, meaning it has not been popular with the public. This would not have helped men readjust to normal social conventions and would have further dislocated them. The men show little tolerance towards the Iraqi people, Ursula, and even themselves; Ursula represents the role and treatment of women in a typically male environment. In 'Regeneration' there is a sense of hope, it indicates that society can evolve and abandon traditional male and female roles. However, progress is stagnant and men take extreme measures to present themselves as the ideal male figure; the alpha male. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Society's archetypal ideological position has been manipulated by the horrors of the Great War, particularly regarding sexuality and emotional exposure; summarized by Hynes as "the war disturbed the familiar world of values ​​and meanings, leaving only contradictions, denials, conflicts, tensions, inconsistencies". According to literary critic Elaine Showalter, the war was a "test of the Victorian masculine ideal". The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century also led to the advancement of warfare technology and the evolution of warfare itself. The rudimentary and unsophisticated cavalry charges of antiquity had been replaced by the mechanical and systematic slaughter of millions of men; trench warfare. The men were confined to claustrophobic, muddy trenches, along with thousands of other men, "they had been mobilized into holes in the ground so narrow they could hardly move." They were isolated from society, they did not have to follow the rules and social norms that had confined them before. The absence of the two-sex model further contributes to the distortion of the masculine ideal, there is no contrast for soldiers in the male-dominated environment. The same could also be said for 'How many miles to Basra?' because there is a distinct lack of female characters within the work, and those that do appear are not cast in a good light by men. Showalter also suggests that isoldiers were silenced and immobilized by the sheer nature of war, therefore, "like women", they had to "express their conflicts through the body". This supports Hyne's claim because it contradicts the values ​​and ideals of the traditional Victorian view, in which men should be strong and show little emotion. World War I soldiers spent prolonged periods of time in close proximity to other men, so naturally bonds formed between them, often sergeants or officers became very close to their men. The relationship between them often became “domestic” and “maternal,” as Layard, one of his former patients, noted to Rivers' surprise. The lack of autonomy and helplessness experienced by soldiers often draws parallels with "female passivity"; Erving Goffman coincides in suggesting that they were in a "position analogous to that of women". These connections caused men like Prior and Sassoon to resist staying in Britain, preferring to go back and protect their soldiers who had fought valiantly alongside them. Such emotions have led men to question their masculinity, as homosexuals; or being perceived as homosexual, was seen as a sin and an evil, some scientists even attempted to cure it, as if it were a disease. Homosexuality was not only considered a religious deviance, but was a polar opposite to the ideal male character, whose sexual dominance over women was as important as the appreciation of their control over other men. One of the very few direct references to homosexuality in "Regeneration" is when Graves talks about his writing to a girl named Nancy with Sassoon over coffee, and how his "affections" are now "running into more normal channels", showing discontent with the assumption. he was homosexual, "even in thought". Graves represses his emotions with the goal of conformity; According to the literary critic Showalter, repression was an "essential aspect of the British masculine ideal". The desperation to disconnect from homosexuality is not unique to “Regeneration,” the constant use of allusions and mentions of sexuality in “How Many Miles to Basra?” serves a similar purpose. The verbal jousting between the soldiers is their way of establishing themselves as an alpha male by regularly referring to sexual themes; most of the time even sexist. One of the main culprits is Freddie, who has built his entire personality on very masculine and aggressive tendencies. The reference to a woman's "gasp" before sexual intercourse shows that she is trying to demonstrate that she is heterosexual by proclaiming that she has experience in that area. He objectifies women and his point of view on them becomes obvious as the play continues until it reaches the climax; the attempted 'rape' of Ursula. Geordie's more respectful view of women could be seen as a hope that younger generations will be more tolerant. Despite this, it also demonstrates how war can manipulate the minds of young people, as Freddie is often seen as the end result of the "barrage of horror", with Geordie representing the impressionable young soldier. Increased female power contributes to emasculation and disconnection. of men, due to the social changes they must embrace upon returning home. It can be seen in two categories, personal power and social power, both equally harmful to men in themselves. The Italian Marxist theorist and politician Gramsci observed that "dominant groups must work to remain dominant", which is especially true in "Regeneration", as the era in which the novel is set saw movements such as the suffragettes beginning to take voice and women's rights. be reformed for their advancement.The novel reveals the effect of the expansion of women's social power. Due to the absence of men, who were the traditional providers, it fell to women to provide not only for their families, but for the entire society. They filled jobs in every industry, most working in munitions factories. Sarah is undoubtedly the most influential female character in "Regeneration", she provides an interesting insight into the lives of women in the First World War. She is Prior's eventual "girlfriend" and often evokes mixed emotions from Prior. On an excursion from the hospital, Prior takes Sarah to the beach, where they see a crowd of people, he 'envied and despised her' because 'she belonged to the pleasure-seeking crowd'. Prior resents her happiness; he feels excluded from the joy of others. Prior is envious because he can never mentally escape the war like the mob did, it all brings back memories. The conflict arises from the feeling of betraying the men who are still fighting in the war by trying to forget them. Prior's anger focuses on Sarah, being a woman, she has been protected from all the horrors of war. He is an outcast from society and observing her freedom makes him jealous of her ignorance and innocence, which offers her a limitless happiness that she can never achieve. He, along with many other men, is trying to force the old philosophies into the new world. They left for war with complete control over society, but returned to a completely new and incomprehensible playing field. Juxtaposing the two texts would show a lack of similarities in their historical contexts; there was no upheaval of the social system after the Iraq war, unlike the First World War. However "How many miles to Basra?" focuses on the effects of women's personal power on men. The main and almost only example is Ursula, whose authority threatens them, especially the older and more experienced soldiers. They are unhappy that a "female journalist" has been sent to follow and interview them, Freddie calling her a "nosy bitch"; a first sign of his sexism. Freddie is the main person responsible for Ursula's mistreatment. Stewart also shows signs of distrust when he tells DangerMouse that he shouldn't say "anything" to her, worried that she might compromise his authority. Stewart is very impressed with the Irish "girl", whom he shot and killed while serving there. He wants to make up for his death by saving the Iraqi mother and child, this drive leads to the eventual death of his entire squadron, a devastating amount of destruction caused by one person's memory. The long-term effect the Irish girl has on Stewart shows how much personal power she had; despite having been dead for several years. This type of influence contrasts with what is seen in "Regeneration", where society's perception of what a man should be and how he should act contributes more. The two texts present different representations of masculinity, not just the angry, stereotypical young soldier. The narrative of "Regeneration" is based on Sassoon's perspective and his eventual return to the war. While this is the likely outcome for men recovering from the disease, he subverts the system; speak out against the reasons for starting and continuing the war. His passivity results in the "soldiers' declaration", in which he criticizes the government's "political errors" and attempts to eliminate the natives from the rest of the country. Passive protest shatters the ideal male image, being ready to fight for his country regardless of the circumstances, regardless of whether it was morally correct or not. But the breakdown of the ideal image led him to the mental hospital,