Discuss the character of Philip: "The Boy Comes Home" by A. A Milne
Philip is the hero of the comedy The Boy Comes Home
haracter of Philip analysis The Boy Come Home: Philip, a youth of twenty three, has just returned from a war after four years. He is a carefree and joyful sort of person. He seems to be deeply attached to his aunt, Emily while he is not much comfortable in the company of his guardian, Uncle James. This is because Uncle James is a strict man that wants to follow a disciplined life. The character of Philip is all about proving what a man can do provided he is confident and knows the right way of using force. Philip is the hero of youth, an ideal personality that knows how to manage things as well as to control humans.
Philip convinces us of his skill when he brings round the rude and arrogant Mrs. Higgins. Everybody seems afraid of her except Philip. He orders her for breakfast which she won't serve. Philip asks her to come to the room. Mrs. Higgins comes and says:
"Breakfast is at eight o'clock. It always has been as long as I've been in this house, and always will be until I get further orders."
Here Philips says that he is just giving further orders for this. She retaliates and the matter reaches even to resignation. Philip cuts a cheque and fires her from her job. All of a sudden the attitude of Mrs. Higgins changes and she says:
"If it's only a bit of breakfast, I don't say but what I mightn't get it, if I'm asked decent."
Similarly, the mere conflict with Mrs. Higgins and its news reaches Uncle James. Since dreams are the best vehicles to rehearse our arts, Uncle James dialogues with Philips in one such dream. The severity of Uncle James ends up in surrendering before Philip. This proves the superiority of Philip and the uncle that had decided to get Philip into his business by word of instructions offers him anything of his liking. But the hero of the play shows utmost respect for his uncle and joins his uncle's business.
Judging the character of Philip from thematic points and symbolic terms, it appears that the playwright has even graver concerns with regard to society and extremism while delineating the character of Philip. The character of Philip portrays what happens to the same old values and honorary things during war that we do in general i.e. normal happy life. He makes fun of us all by revealing the horrible face of war and heroism related to war. The cruelty is unleashed in such a manner which baffles us as it does to Mr. James and we, both Mr. James and the society, do our best not to look at the monster problem of the jingles of war. The character of Philip is a living manifestation of how war destroys innocence and teaches brutality.
