In what ways does the playwright convey the mood of the play?

The combative mood of the play is a direct reflection of the circumstances. It would be hard to come up with a character in modern literature who is more of an underdog than Ronnie Winslow. He is disadvantaged in this situation on every level; he is still at naval college and so he is treated more like a kid in school than a military man in training. However he is also without anyone in his corner; he is fourteen years old, but his fate is decided by the college without any consultation with his father. He has no representation and is not offered any. He is basically a young boy challenging the government of the country, which seems like an unwinnable battle.

Even when Sir Robert Morton comes on board, the entire team representing Winslow seem to be fighting an uphill fight. The fact that they emerge victorious is an enormous victory for the underdog and also for continuing to fight for what one knows to be right however difficult the circumstances may seem to be.