Guests of the Nation, a Review of Conflicts Essay -- European Literatu

Guests of the Nation, a short story by Frank OConnor takes place in 1921 during Irelands fight for independence from British rule. Set in a small cottage in the countryside of Ireland, the story tells of two Englishmen who are prisoners and are being watched over by three Irishmen. The story tells of the relationship that develops surrounded by the captives and their captors and explores the conflict that arises when the soldiers are called to duty.The story consisted of seven main characters, each adding depth to the story and contributing to the development of the plot. Two of the seven characters where the Englishmen Hawkins and Belcher. Hawkins was a little Englishman with a deplorable tongue who never did a stroke of work, but despite this, he was a friend and chum to two of the soldiers. Belcher was the name of the second Englishman. Belcher was a huge man who was much more quiet with an uncommon shortness...of speech. He too was friend to the two Irish soldiers and he go along specially well with the old woman of the house, Mary Brigid OConnell (who was...