A Man Could Stand Up— · Chapter
V explained
Tietjens reflects on a captured German deserter and the moral ambiguities of war, while the Colonel asks him for a £250 loan and discusses the possibility of a German attack and falling back on prepared positions.
What happens
Tietjens reflects on a captured German deserter and the moral ambiguities of war, while the Colonel asks him for a £250 loan and discusses the possibility of a German attack and falling back on prepared positions. Tietjens realizes his inner calculations are based on living with Valentine Wannop.
Themes in this chapter
Trauma of War
Tietjens experiences horror and loathing at the deserter episode, feels personal deterioration, and has premonitions of men being killed.
Waiting and Inaction
The battalion waits for a German attack that may not come; Tietjens regrets the strafe is not happening, reflecting the tension of inaction.
Love and Commitment
Tietjens realizes his inner calculations are based on the idea of living with Valentine Wannop, revealing his commitment to her.
Characters to notice
- Christopher Tietjens
Reflects on the captured deserter, the Colonel's request, and his desire to command the battalion; realizes his plans involve Valentine Wannop.
- Captain Mckechnie
The Colonel (O.C. A Company) expresses regret that the Germans are not attacking, reveals personal motives for leave, and is later asked by Tietjens to lecture his men on communication.
- Valentine Wannop
Tietjens realizes his inner calculations are based on the idea of living with her.
- Lieutenant Aranjuez
Signalling Officer who knows about buzzers and signals but not about keeping communication between troops in motion.
- Lance-Corporal Duckett
Stands silently with Aranjuez in the trench during Tietjens' reflections.
Key passages
“He was going to open a little sweet shop in the Tottenham Court Road. He had, of course, been a waiter: in old Compton Street.”
The deserter planned to run a sweet shop in London, having previously worked as a waiter.
Tietjens reflects on the mundane aspirations of the captured German deserter.
“He found himself at times looking at the faces of several men and thinking that this or that man would shortly be killed. He wished he could get rid of the habit. It seemed indecent.”
Tietjens often predicts which men will die, a habit he finds disturbing and inappropriate.
Tietjens' premonitions of death highlight the trauma of war.
“From the sudden fierce hatred that he felt at the thought of giving money to this man, Tietjens knew that his inner mind based all its calculations on the idea of living with Valentine Wannop”
Tietjens' reluctance to lend money reveals that his subconscious plans revolve around a future with Valentine Wannop.
Tietjens realizes his commitment to Valentine influences his decisions.
“The Colonel said: 'No. This is only falling back on prepared positions. There will be positions prepared for us right back to the sea. If the Staff has done its work properly. If it hasn't, the war's over.'”
The Colonel explains that the current retreat is to prepared defensive lines, and if the Staff has failed, the war is lost.
The Colonel's assessment of the strategic situation underscores the precariousness of the Allied position.