Guests of the Nation -

Guests of the Nation - Frank O'Connor

"Irony" is defined as something that does not fit in with what is expected. In the case of Frank O'Connor's story, the irony is perhaps between the title and the reference to British prisoners as "guests" or to the actuality of the final events. Or it might be between the basic story of a "friendship" between soldiers of warring sides -- in this case the Irish and the British -- and the final horrific act of execution at the end of the story. In any case, it is beyond "unexpected" or a "calamitous surprise" that the story ends the way it does, though that is what the author intends as well. But it is clear that is not his main reason for the story.

Summary war between the Irish and the British is raging. Two British soldiers, Hawkins and Belcher, have been captured and are being held hostage by a couple of Irish soldiers, Bonaparte and Noble, in a house owned by an older lady. O'Connor makes it quite clear in his story that the British hostages are being well taken care of, and that the four men become quite friendly.

The Irish believe that a friendship has developed to a point that, even if the hostages were let free on their own, they would not try to escape. That's how close the relationship became.

Belcher was the quieter of the two, and Hawkins was much more outgoing and talkative. Noble and Hawkins even had arguments about topics like religion and capitalism. The environment really became as if four friends were living together. Even the old woman of the house grew to like Belcher and Hawkins.

They are sitting around playing cards one evening as they had many times, when Donovan. The supervisor of the Irish soldiers enters as he often has to see how things are going. Noble and Hawkins are in the middle of one of their loud debates so Donovan, wanting to get some peace and quiet takes Bonaparte outside and tells him that the two British soldiers will be executed if the British kill any Irish prisoners. Of course, this shocks Bonaparte, and disturbs him beyond what might be normal for soldiers on the opposite sides of a war.

Bonaparte saying nothing to Noble. They lock up the Englishmen and go to bed. That's when Bonaparte tells his friend what could happen to the Irish soldiers. They discuss whether or not they should tell the hostages, but decide that nothing will probably happen anyway so why frighten them and cause tension.

Bonaparte then spends a restless night trying to figure out he might help the British soldiers escape their fate if it did happen that they were to be shot. His problem is that he can't determine a way out that would not involve his complicity and subsequent execution by his own side. The idea that an opposing soldier would actually lose sleep and worry about this issue displays how very close the friendship has become.

The next day, Hawkins notices that the two Irish are quiet and knows there is something wrong, but never expects what it might be. The Irish soldiers are uncomfortable with the news they now share with each other.

The day after that, they are playing cards when Donovan comes back and speaks with Bonaparte outside. He tells him that he has come to execute Hawkins and Belcher because the British have shot several Irish prisoners of war. Donovan warns them not to alarm the British but to tell them they are being transferred. Noble cannot stomach the thought and wants nothing to do with it, so Donovan sends him ahead to dig the graves.

The Englishmen don't really want to leave their friends, but are persuaded by Donovan and Bonaparte to go with them. As they are walking into a bog, Donovan tells the British what is about to happen. They are unbelieving that this could happen and argue, but to no avail. Bonaparte says that he is having a hard time with this and really doesn't want to have to kill them.

Hawkins is shot in the back of the head after trying to get Noble and Bonaparte to help him.

However, Hawkins does not die right away and Belcher asks that the Irish finish him off. Then Belcher takes his handkerchief and puts it around his own eyes, and Donovan shoots him. Bonaparte and Noble refuse to have anything to do with the killings, and are quite upset.

When the British soldiers go back to the house and the old lady, she asks but then figures out for herself what has happened and prays. Bonaparte says that he will never look at things the same again and that he feels a sense of loneliness.

Analysis

The human mind and heart operating in an unusual environment of a peaceful location in the middle of war. That is one of the themes that O'Connor studies in this story. The temporal quality of ideology is another. We see this at the end of O'Connor's piece when one of the British prisoners offers to become a traitor to save his life, forfeiting his life-long beliefs and loyalty in a moment of panic.