What Price Glory?: Analysis of Major Characters
"What Price Glory?" is a play that delves into the complexities of military life during wartime, focusing on the interactions and conflicts among its major characters. The narrative centers around First Sergeant Quirt, a self-assured and often brutal soldier driven by a thirst for action, whose contentious relationship with Captain Flagg unfolds throughout the story. Flagg, an alcoholic with a past of service in China and Cuba, struggles with his leadership responsibilities and personal demons while displaying moments of compassion, particularly towards his girlfriend Charmaine and fellow soldiers. Charmaine, portrayed as an attractive yet emotionally neglected woman, embodies the impact of war on civilian lives, often caught in the crossfire of the men's ambitions and desires.
Private Lewishon, a young and vulnerable recruit, highlights the harsh realities of war, revealing its toll on both soldiers and civilians through his tragic fate. The play juxtaposes the brutal camaraderie and rivalry among the soldiers with the often-overlooked emotional ramifications of their actions on those around them. Together, these characters create a rich tapestry that explores themes of honor, loyalty, and the costs of glory in the face of conflict, making "What Price Glory?" a poignant examination of the human experience during war.
What Price Glory?: Analysis of Major Characters
Authors: Laurence Stallings and Maxwell Anderson
First published: 1926, in Three American Plays
Genre: Play
Locale: The French countryside
Plot: Realism
Time: World War I
First Sergeant Quirt, the company's senior noncommissioned officer (NCO). He was Flagg's senior NCO in China when the captain was enlisted, and they had a disagreement over a woman that continues decades later. Quirt is brutal and dangerously self-confident, and he steals Flagg's girlfriend after decking a drunken Irishman. In spite of Flagg's order, he refuses to marry the dishonored woman. At the battlefront, Quirt longs for action, so much so that he is seriously wounded in the foot and must return behind the lines. He escapes from the hospital and confronts Flagg. The two agree to a game of blackjack to decide their fate, but orders calling them back to the front force them to abandon their duel. Quirt serves as the essential soldier: a violent womanizer always ready to answer a call to arms.
Captain Flagg, the company commander. Formally a corporal and a veteran of duty in both China and Cuba, Flagg is an alcoholic, which gets him into considerable difficulties. He does, at least, have some compassion for his girlfriend, Charmaine, but it is frequently obscured by his drunken brawling, which leads to his imprisonment on a charge of attempted manslaughter at one point in the play. He is also keenly aware of Quirt's abilities as a soldier, as well as Quirt's desire to usurp his command. A particularly touching scene occurs in act 2, when Flagg comforts a shell-shocked lieutenant. When he is sober, Flagg is a creditable leader who seems to be aware of the suffering inherent in war. In spite of these compassionate tendencies, he, like Quirt, does not hesitate when the call to arms is sounded.
Charmaine de la Cognac, described as a “drab,” an attractive young woman who is the daughter of Cognac Pete, a local tavern keeper. She is quite liberal with her affections. In the opening scene, she worries over Flagg and his impending journey to Paris. In the next scene, she kisses Quirt passionately. Charmaine is an example of the brutality and the callousness of the common soldier. Quirt and Flagg care quite little about her and her situation. Not even the love of a beautiful woman will keep these men from hearing the call to arms.
Private Lewishon, a young Jewish recruit who demonstrates that war can be brutal to both soldiers and civilians. He first appears in act 1, pleading with Flagg for replacement identification tags. The captain dismisses him with a promise to replace the missing items but laughs at the young soldier's homesickness. The irony in this scene is revealed when Lewishon is mortally wounded in the attack on the wine cellar at the battlefront.