1. Mason
He’s a cook
He’s scared of Stanhope (apricots and general threatening to send back out to front)
Constantly polite and apologetic
Working class
Follows order at the end and goes to his fate/death
Reliable
Always working – providing tea or alarm serves for the men
Isolated – doesn’t eat with them or join them
Pitied by Osborne
Closest to Trotter – can joke with him – same class
He is more interesting to look at in terms of how others response TO him than in his own
right…
Lots of short sentences and lots of mono-syllabic words… simple? Direct? Only speaks
when he needs to?
ACT 1
 Described in stage directions as a “soldier servant”
 We see him more as the latter as he s often on stage and trying to serve the officers and
keep than happy. He has avoided fighting in order to cook for them but does not complain
when he has to go to his death at the end. Servants – good ones are thought to be effective
if you don’t notice that they’re there… many treat him in this way (particularly Stanhope). In
Act 2, he is described as He always appears to be around – “[Mason has come in, and stands
diffidently in the background]”
 First line: “Excuse me, sir” it is the language of a servant who is socially inferior. Slightly nervous
even thought his is only to Osborne. Stanhope terrifies him and this makes Stanhope look
unreasonable and cruel as he has nothing to gain from being unpleasant or from threatening Mason
(“unless you want to re-join your platoon out there.”)
ACT 2
 Trotter says “You know, that man’s getting familiar” = wants Mason to know that he’s lower rank
than Trotter but yet they share a class familiarity = both working class and do tease each other and in
that way are slightly less isolated.
 Provides relief after Stanhope and Hibbert’s argument by bringing them “tea”. Adrink from home…
a drink that is about comfort and is associated with maternal (motherly) comfort and care.
ACT 3
 Last person to talk to Osbourne before he dies – “Good luck, Sir.” He could say nothing but clearly
cares about Osborne and wishes that everyone stays safe.
 Mothers them by making “sambridges” – optimistic hope that they’ll be alive at lunchtime. Like
Trotter, he is not very swell educated or articulate and so gets words wrong – which amuses the
other soldiers in a slightly unkind way – but he wants them to be full and warm even if they are facing
death.
 Still prepares the kitchen – “I’ve made the fire up for 3 hours” – even though he’s going to fight
and probably die. Selfless and thinks of others. Yet he also thinks the fighting will be brief…? The
Germans are well prepared…?