David Hare's 'The Absence of War' is a powerful and thought-provoking play that explores the devastating consequences of war, both on individuals and on society as a whole. The play follows the lives of three families over a period of 20 years, from the outbreak of the First World War to the aftermath of the Second World War. Through their experiences, Hare shows the ways in which war can destroy lives, families, and communities.
The play begins in 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War. The three families are all affected by the war in different ways. The first family is the Nicholsons, a wealthy family who lose their son, George, in the war. The second family is the Figgis, a working-class family who lose their father, Arthur, in the war. The third family is the Banks, a middle-class family who see their son, George, return from the war a changed man.
The war has a profound impact on all three families. The Nicholsons are grief-stricken over the loss of their son. The Figgis are struggling to make ends meet without their father. The Banks are trying to cope with the fact that their son has returned from the war a traumatized and violent man.
The play follows the three families through the aftermath of the First World War and into the Second World War. The Second World War has a similar impact on the families as the First World War. The Nicholsons lose another son, James, in the war. The Figgis lose their home in the bombing of London. The Banks see their son, George, become a Nazi sympathizer.
'The Absence of War' is a powerful and moving play that shows the devastating consequences of war. Hare does not shy away from the horrors of war, and he shows how war can destroy lives, families, and communities. The play is a reminder of the importance of peace and the need to avoid war at all costs.
