Testament Of Youth By Vera Brittain

Vera Brittain published her memoir Testament of Youth in 1933. In the memoir, she describes her childhood, work as a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) nurse during World War I and the challenges of life women experienced after the war. What struggles did Vera have to overcome? In this essay, I will discuss the challenges in Vera Brittain’s life during this time period. During Vera’s youth, the only expectation her parents had for her was to marry. To their dismay, she wanted to continue her higher education. Her parents were not supportive of her decision. According to Vera, “Mother says that people like me just become intellectual old maids.” Vera earned one of the limited spots at Summerville School Oxford. During

While attending Summerville School Oxford, war was declared. Her unexpected love interest, Roland, that she met through her brother, Edward, was eager to serve his county. He desired to become a decorated officer by being wounded or killed in action. Vera on the other hand felt the pangs of patriotism, so she joined the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment. She decided to delay her return to Summerville to serve her county. Her patriotism was still running high when she urged Edward to enlist. Vera’s innocent of the ideals of war began to fade quickly when she witnessed the broken bodies of wounded soldiers. According to Vera, “I wish those people who write so glibly about this being a hold war and the orators who talk so much about going on, no matter how long the war lasts and what it may mean, could see a case of mustard gas – the poor things burnt and blistered all over with great mustered colored suppurating blisters, with eyes, all sticky and stuck together, and always fighting for breath, with voices a mere whisper, saying their throats are closing and they know they will choke.” As the World War I wore on, the “show” increased and the wounded poured in. Hospitals were understaffed, the staff was over worked and living conditions were substandard. In all of the horror and sadness of the war, Vera learned the most important lesson while working as a V.A.D., “These shattered, dying boys (Huns) and I were paying alike for a situation that none of us had desired or done anything to bring about.” Vera understood that everyone was a pawn in the war. She suffered great loss with the death of Roland, Edward and two dear friends in the First World