My Boy Jack

by

David Haig

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My Boy Jack: Act 1, Scene 4 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Ten months have passed. It’s now October 1914, and World War I has been raging for a month and a half. Rudyard is standing in front of a large group and trying to recruit new soldiers by speaking passionately about the importance of preserving England’s way of life. England has never been invaded, he points out, and this is something to be proud of. Now, though, German forces are only 50 miles away, and if they successfully take over the country, everything will descend into chaos. Ruthless violence will devastate the British population. Worse, Germany will control England when the war is over, and nothing about England will stay the same.  
Rudyard’s speech shows how proud he is that his country is powerful and mighty. He clearly takes pride in the fact that England has never been successfully overtaken by its enemies. And though he worries about the threat of violence posed by the encroaching German military, what he really fears is the prospect of the country undergoing a massive change as a result of invasion. For him, then, very little is more important than preserving British customs and its power in the world.
Themes
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
Patriotism and the British Empire Theme Icon
Quotes
Rudyard wants the audience to understand the dire consequences of Germany overtaking England. If this happens, everything will have to be done “the German way”: farmers will have to farm differently, people will have to eat German food, and England will lose its social customs. Plus, the towns will be renamed, maps will be written in German, and people will have to use German marks instead of English pounds. With all this in mind, Rudyard can’t believe England is still only using a volunteer-based system of military service. The problem is that there are British citizens who won’t make any kind of sacrifice for their country. Rudyard believes these people should be “shunned.”
Rudyard fixates on the idea of England losing its sense of culture. To him, this is a horrific possibility, and he regards his list of “German” alternatives as sufficient motivation for even the most complacent people to join the military and fight to preserve the British way of life. His belief in British superiority also explains his desire for Jack to enlist: he wants his son to fight for England to stay the way it is, believing that protecting the country is worth putting Jack in danger. 
Themes
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
Parental Expectations Theme Icon
Patriotism and the British Empire Theme Icon
Quotes