Billy Prior-Character Study Essay

* Prior is introduced in chapter 5 and is portrayed as very defensive ‘he stares straight through you’ Pg 41. * Prior is a 22-year-old second lieutenant whose neurosis manifests itself, initially, through an inability to talk or remember the events, which have led to his breakdown. * His is of a working-class background but his mother has done her best to push her son up the social ladder, regardless whether this is best for him. * Billy’s mothers desire to better himself has resulted in a rebellious tendency to continually question authority which is shown in many of his dialogues with prior. * He is an inquisitive and intelligent man but because he ‘broke down’ he feels his courage failed him. * Prior has a flippant, cynical attitude and his discussions with rivers are frequently tinged with sarcasm both against rivers and his methods, and against the war in general * He describes his feelings at going into battle in sexual terms; his wartime nightmares and sexual dreams become confused and this brings on a sense of self-revulsion. This in turn, leads Prior further into depression. * Prior’s sexual frustrations are bound up with his war neurosis and his need to prove himself both as a soldier and a man. * Billy feels he has a duty to serve his country but on the other hand his ambitions preempt this duty as a reason to return to war. He clearly has a deep desire to return to the front and prove to himself that he is not a coward but this feeling is reserved a little by self-preservation * Prior hides his feelings and this is shown in his writing. He is at times is quite satirical â€Å"not tonight, Wilhelm. I’ve got a headache†? * On page 49 he shows a more aggressive side when he is very aggressive towards rivers * He develops a relationship with Sarah a ‘Geordie’ girl on pages 89+130 * Prior stood up Sarah in the book which she did not like but it was because he had got back late the previous night when on his last expedition with Sarah. * Billy begins to show his feelings on page 120 as he starts to open up a little more about his experiences. * â€Å"I wasn’t wearing the badge because I was with a girl† Pg.95 This shows how Prior is embarrassed about staying at Craiglockhart and shows his caring side. * â€Å"I find myself trying to impress you’ on page 64 this shows a more caring side to Billy Prior and more subtle side to him. This would also help the reader further empathise with prior. * On page 55 the reader gets to meet priors readers and it soon becomes clear that Billy does not get on well at all with his father â€Å"he seemed too have no feeling for his son except content†-â€Å"Must I? I’m not proud† This shows another side to prior and the lack of love he has felt whilst growing up. * By page 104 the hypnosis begins to work and gets to him and after a few meeting cry’s. Prior grabs Rivers by the arms and began butting him in the chest. Hard enough to hurt. This shows how Rivers touched a nerve in the hypnosis and bridges are finally being crossed. * On page 105 we get to find out about his war experiences. Prior is a complex and confused character, who is lost and desperately in need of help. It is only when he is finally prepared to admit this to himself that his road to recovery can begin.