Regeneration (Pat Barker) Sassoon/Rivers Character Analysis

Right from when these two characters meet, we see their personalities and their way of thinking shine through. Sassoon is very cautious of what he says, although after getting to know Rivers a bit, expresses his more personal thoughts. Rivers immediately analyses and assesses Sassoon from the very first paragraph in their meeting. Sassoon’s “pale skin, purple shadows under the eyes show “no obvious signs of nervous disorder” in Sassoon, but this immediately shows us, the reader, how Rivers is going to conduct his first interview with.

Rivers has a very friendly attitude towards Sassoon, smiling at him when he takes his first sip of tea. This is because Rivers wants Sassoon to feel relaxed and open so he will express his innermost feelings, and therefore he can pin-point Sassoon’s cause of “neurosis”. Sassoon is sur

Rivers, throughout his interrogation doesn’t act like the doctor trying to heal a patient from the torment of war. Instead he tries to become more human and is calm with Sassoon. His experienced and professional manner of dealing with Sassoon also impresses him and makes him feel more comfortable in the interview. It’s Rivers’ “duty” to change Sassoon from having an “anti-war neurosis”. Sassoon recognises this fact and is willing to put up with Rivers’ treatment until an outcome is brought about. Rivers’ reassures Sassoon during the meeting, not just because he wants Sassoon to explain his feelings/thoughts etc, but also because that is his manner of questioning. He assures Sassoon that young children have after-dream hallucinations “frequently” and it is nothing to worry about.

Rivers’ role is very much as a messenger for us, in that he asks Sassoon the questions we all want answering too. Rivers retrieves Sassoon’s background for us

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