Monologue Analysis: Britannia Waves the Rules by Gareth Farr

Character Context

Character: Carl
Age: Early 20s
Speaking to: A commanding officer or a figure of authority, though the speech can also be interpreted as Carl addressing himself or the concept of military authority.

Synopsis

Carl, a young soldier, delivers this impassioned monologue, reflecting on his disillusionment with the military and the promises made to him upon enlisting. He confronts the disparity between the idealized vision of service he was sold and the harsh realities he has experienced. This speech captures the anger, betrayal, and moral disconnection that Carl feels as he processes the brutal truths of war and its impact on his identity.

Original Text

Do you know why I joined the Army sir? [...] I joined the Army because I
couldn’t get a job on civvy street, couldn’t get one, didn’t want one. I didn’t
want to get stuck in a down, brown, empty old town, I didn’t want to be working
for the weekend and wasting the week. I wanted more. More for me please sir,
more. So I signed up. You said I’d do well, you said I’d see the world. Who
were you talking to sir? You didn’t have a fuckin’ clue did you? Just a face, a
nameless no one, with fire in his eyes and two strong legs. I bit your bastard
hand off didn’t I sir? Because I’d ‘do well,’ I’d ‘see the world.’ All you needed
to do then was chuck in a bit of national pride and I’d be the perfect clockwork
soldier. Rule Britannia, Cruel Britannia, show me how to fool Britannia. I’ve
seen it all sir, Kenya, Germany, Afghanistan sir. Yes sir! It’s true sir. You did
show me the world sir. I saw a gay bloke get kicked to death in Hamburg. I saw
two black lads get pissed on every day for a month in Nairobi. I saw a soldier
walk away from a dying child and I’ve seen grenades and bullets blow the arse
out of men, more than men. Join up, keep up, put and shut up! No more sir! It’s
not tanks and ranks and firing blanks! It’s live rounds and paid in pounds.
Sterling. Rule Britannia? It’s bullshit. Britannia waives the rules and I think you
know it sir.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing

  1. Do you know why I joined the Army sir? [...] I joined the Army because I
    couldn’t get a job on civvy street, couldn’t get one, didn’t want one.

    • Carl opens by explaining his decision to join the military, driven by a lack of opportunities and a desire to escape a monotonous life.

  2. I didn’t want to get stuck in a down, brown, empty old town, I didn’t want to be working for the weekend and wasting the week. I wanted more. More for me please sir, more.

    • He reveals his yearning for a greater purpose and his dissatisfaction with the life he left behind.

  3. So I signed up. You said I’d do well, you said I’d see the world. Who were you talking to sir? You didn’t have a fuckin’ clue did you?

    • Carl begins to challenge the promises made to him during recruitment, addressing the empty assurances with rising anger.

  4. Just a face, a nameless no one, with fire in his eyes and two strong legs. I bit your bastard hand off didn’t I sir? Because I’d ‘do well,’ I’d ‘see the world.’

    • He reflects on how easily he was manipulated, recognizing the superficial qualities valued by the military.

  5. All you needed to do then was chuck in a bit of national pride and I’d be the perfect clockwork soldier. Rule Britannia, Cruel Britannia, show me how to fool Britannia.

    • Carl mocks the patriotic rhetoric used to enlist soldiers, highlighting the exploitation behind it.

  6. I’ve seen it all sir, Kenya, Germany, Afghanistan sir. Yes sir! It’s true sir. You did show me the world sir.

    • With bitter sarcasm, Carl acknowledges the promise of travel but juxtaposes it with the horrific experiences he endured.

  7. I saw a gay bloke get kicked to death in Hamburg. I saw two black lads get pissed on every day for a month in Nairobi. I saw a soldier walk away from a dying child and I’ve seen grenades and bullets blow the arse out of men, more than men.

    • He recounts specific atrocities and injustices, painting a harrowing picture of the reality behind military service.

  8. Join up, keep up, put and shut up! No more sir! It’s not tanks and ranks and firing blanks! It’s live rounds and paid in pounds. Sterling.

    • Carl rejects the military propaganda, emphasizing the brutality and transactional nature of war.

  9. Rule Britannia? It’s bullshit. Britannia waives the rules and I think you know it sir.

    • He concludes with a scathing indictment of the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the system, leaving no doubt about his disillusionment.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Carl starts with a direct address, drawing the audience into his emotional state and the reasons behind his enlistment.

  • Turning Point: The speech shifts as Carl confronts the broken promises and manipulative tactics used during recruitment.

  • Climax: He recounts the horrors and injustices he has witnessed, painting a vivid and shocking picture of his disillusionment.

  • Resolution: Carl denounces the institution and its values, ending with a firm rejection of the patriotic ideals that initially drew him in.

About the Playwright: Gareth Farr

Gareth Farr is an acclaimed British playwright whose works often explore themes of identity, societal expectation, and disillusionment. Britannia Waves the Rules received critical acclaim for its raw and uncompromising depiction of a soldier’s experience, reflecting the struggles of young men in contemporary Britain.