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Chapter 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Long Long Way, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Youth, Naivety, and Growing Up
The Horrors of War
Family, Camaraderie, and Love
Political Conflict and Divided Loyalties
Resilience and Shared Humanity
Summary
Analysis
Willie and the other soldiers in his company now huddle in a different trench. Willie isn’t sure where they are, but they call their new trench Sackville Street. Privately, the soldiers think about all the graves they’ve seen. Willie thinks about the thousands of French soldiers who have already died defending their country. He tries to imagine what the war would be like if it were taking place in Ireland instead. That night, Willie’s hands start shaking.
Willie and his fellow soldiers are already deeply affected by all the death they’ve seen. A strong, persistent fear has replaced Willie’s former naïve innocence about war. Willie and the other Irish soldiers try to soothe their fears with thoughts of home by nicknaming their trench after a central street in Dublin. However, this subtle connection between Sackville Street and military trenches foreshadows future violent conflict in Ireland.
Themes
While it rains, Christy Moran smokes a cigarette and wishes aloud that he could go on a nice date with a girl back home—a much better alternative to lying in a muddy trench without food. After the rain stops, Captain Pasley comes by. He promises to ask for double rations tomorrow for the men, who treat Pasley with great respect. Then Captain Pasley raises his head to look out over the trench, despite Christy Moran’s nervousness that he’ll be shot. The captain dreamily comments on the beautiful land and the stars in the night sky. Willie admires Captain Pasley’s confidence and thinks all leaders should be like him.
For the soldiers, talking about home is a welcome distraction from the misery of the trenches and their constant fears about survival. Being able to trust, respect, and depend on their commanding officer is also crucial for their morale. Captain Pasley’s calm, noble demeanor helps anchor and reassure Willie. For Willie, having someone he can look up to is beneficial, especially in the nerve-racking and perilous context of war.
Themes
In the middle of the night, Captain Pasley, Christy Moran, Willie, Clancy, Williams, and Pete O’Hara climb up onto no man’s land to fortify the barbed wire along their trenches. They have to creep stealthily to avoid detection, dropping into the grass whenever the Germans send star shells into the sky. Suddenly, Captain Pasley whispers for all the men to lie low. They hear an unknown group’s footsteps passing close by, and Willie urinates out of fear.
Being stationed on the front lines means that Willie and his fellow soldiers must carry out dangerous tasks that at any moment could become deadly. Willie’s fear of being killed is so instinctual that it physically overwhelms him.
Themes
Willie grips the barrel of his rifle and suddenly feels that he’s not afraid. If he had to stand and fight the enemy now, he could. Willie grins, elated that fear hasn’t incapacitated him. The figures move away, and the men are relieved to be safe. Captain Pasley assures the men that they’ll return to their trench for some tea.
Despite his body’s automatic fear response to the threat of death, Willie’s natural instincts for survival are strong enough to sustain him. This moment of danger is like a test of Willie’s capability as a soldier, and Willie passes, which fills him with euphoria. Captain Pasley’s lightheartedness helps soothe the men’s fear and bonds them together.
Themes
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