Chapter 23 Summary and Analysis

Graves recuperated and entered active duty as a drill and musketry instructor for the Oxford school's battalions. His platoon consisted of a wide variety of nationalities. Graves pushed himself too hard, again, and eventually collapsed. He was once again forced to enter a period of convalescence for many weeks. Previously, Graves and other officers had been allowed to convalesce at their personal homes. Too many, however, never returned to duty, and thus the policy was changed to require convalescence while on light-duty assignment under military supervision. Meanwhile, Graves made the acquaintance of many significant literary figures at Oxford. Nearly everyone at Oxford was anti-war, many openly critical of the government's handling of the entire affair. Graves, in marked contrast, considered the war evil and pointless but maintained that home-front criticisms are counter-productive. Graves also spent his days walking, reading, and having...