Why Do Rivers Get Prior

As we move further through the novel, Rivers attitude towards ethics and reasons for war change. He has a moment of realisation were he feels sympathy for his patients. Rivers begins to re-think his previous beliefs. Rivers feels deep conflict about whether treating his patients just so that they can be sent back to their deaths is right or wrong. Rivers is offered a job at a mental hospital after he begins suffering from severe chest pains. During Rivers time away from Craig Lockhart Hospital, one of his patients, Billy Prior, is given permanent home service. This means that he no longer has to return to the war. After finding out this news, both himself and Sarah decided that they should move ahead with their relationship. Despite the fact
He has a bad attitude towards Dr Rivers in the beginning. Billy is known to suffer from mutism and severe asthma. As a soldier who has had a difficult life both at war and home, Prior is a conflicted and complicated person. Both his mother and father have different view with regard to their son’s wellbeing making it difficult for Prior when his parents visit. He wants to get better but at the same time he gives the doctors at Craig Lockhart Hospital a hard time, Rivers especially. Prior believes that he has a duty to serve for his country yet his ambitions pre-empt this as a reason for him to return to war. He wants to prove himself a good soldier, a man that can withstand pressure. After talking to Rivers, Prior regains the ability to talk. He hadn’t actually been a mute, he just intended not to talk as he felt he would break down. He wants to keep up this image of masculinity and strength. Prior goes to a pub where he finds an attractive woman, Sarah Lamb, who he arranges to meet again. When returning back to the hospital, Rivers tried his hypnosis technique as a way of trying to make Prior remember his memories of war. Prior’s memories return. He remembers in vivid detail having to shovel up the remains of his men after a shell attack. These memories spark up feelings of anger inside Prior. After a week, both Prior and Sarah meet up again at the seaside, where they take a stroll along the beach. Prior envies and resents the way in which the people on the beach are able to escape from the war. He takes solace in the fact that there is a part of his life that is normal, this part being