The Thin Line Between Camaraderie and Homosexuality in Regeneration Anonymous 12th Grade

Within the novel Regeneration, there is a strong emphasis on the relationships presented between men, with Barker emphasising the idea of ambiguity between conflicting (or coexisting) feelings of camaraderie and romance. In this way, there is a thin line between ‘the right kind of love’ and something all together less platonic. Barker's exploration of these competing perspectives allows Regeneration to comment on attitudes to homosexuality that were prevalent in the era of World War I, and to cast those attitudes against more modern and politically progressive responses to homosexual relationships.

Barker emphasises the idea of camaraderie in terms of hero worship in particular, by referring to the relationship Sassoon had with the other soldiers from the front line. Graves states that ‘the men worship him….And he loves them. being separated from them would kill him’ - referring to the forced separation that occurred due to Sassoon’s declaration. With this quotation, we get a sense of the camaraderie that exists between the men and the mutual respect and care which also seems to be a fundamental aspect of their relationships. As Sassoon was known for being brave, nicknamed as ‘Mad Jack’, he is worshiped by the men as they...