Go Home and Be Quiet

Nurses' memoirs from the First World War were recently rediscovered. A growing interest in their testimonies and experiences of this event was consequently born. In their memoirs, they talked about their special relationship they had with solders as those differ from one era to another. A comparison will be made with the Victorian era in which Vera Brittain was born and educated. To do so, I will use Paul Fussell's book, which compares the Victorian era to chivalry romances. Moreover, the role of the woman also differs as a woman or a nurse. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to analyse the relationship of dependence between men and women, particularly between nurses and soldiers, during the Great War by means of an autobiographical book. This book is Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, a war nurse, who relates her experience as a woman during the War. At the end of this analysis, it will become apparent that women gain in autonomy even if it is of short duration. Moreover, even if it may appear that men may depend more on women than women do in wartime, women remain at men’s disposal. The feminist movement’s arrival will help, however, modernise the society and will allow a greater open mind.