Masculinity in Regeneration and How Many Miles to Basra Thomas Dinnage 12th Grade

A key concept to masculinity is being a strong protector, that one should protect one's family and nation. Yet the texts, 'Regeneration' and 'How Many Miles to Basra?' present the argument that warfare promotes a distortion of masculinity; a passivity. The isolation from normal societal structure and lack of the two sex model leaves no contrast for the soldiers, collapsing the stereotyped masculine ideal. There is a definite distinction between the setting and circumstances of the two texts. The setting for 'Regeneration' is more extreme than that of 'How Many Miles to Basra?', in the sense that the horrors of WW1 were more devastating and long lasting than that of the modern war. However, comparisons can still be fairly constructed because 'Regeneration' is related to society's perceptions of what and who a man should be; independent, strong, heterosexual and most importantly the provider for society. There is extreme pressure from the rest of society to conform to these stereotypes, and when they are not followed in any form the soldiers become dislocated; whether that be in terms of sexuality, moral stance on war, physical or mental condition. Whereas 'How Many Miles to Basra?' is more concerned with the crisis of...