Brother in the Land | Summary

On the hillside, Danny encounters a man in a radiation suit, who

confiscates his bike, and orders him to "get back to town". Arriving in
Skipley, Danny finds the town in ruins, and learns that his family's shop
has collapsed, killing his mother. His father and Ben have survived, as
they were in the cellar, which the Lodges use as a stockroom. With so
much food in their stockroom, the Lodges have plenty to live on, but the
other survivors are not so lucky, and as the weeks pass, people begin
fighting over food. Shortly after the war, Danny meets a girl named Kim
Tyson, who sums the situation up in the following words: "Cavemen
versus gentlemen is no contest."
Shortly after Danny meets Kim, the local Commissioner issues an order
that "all burned, sick and badly injured persons" should be taken out of
the ruins and placed at the roadside so they can be taken to hospital; in
fact, the "hospital" is a front for his plan to kill off the worst of the bombcasualties. Later, the Commissioner implements a system of food and fuel
rationing, with severe penalties introduced for hoarding. The injured,
elderly, and people driven insane by the nuclear attack (known as
"Spacers") are given poisoned rations. But Mr. Lodge refuses to hand over
his stock and, though Danny and Ben do register for ration-cards, they
only visit the local feeding centre once.
Presently, the Commissioner's men come to the Lodges' shop and arrest
Mr Lodge. Moments later, the truck bearing Mr. Lodge is blown up, killing
everyone on board, and leaving Danny and Ben orphans. The brothers
seek sanctuary at the home of Sam Branwell, a smallholder who, along
with several other survivors, has formed a resistance movement called
MASADA (an acronym for "Movement to Arm Skipley Against Dictational
Authority); their aims are to overthrow the Commissioner and prevent him
from creating a feudal society. Other members of MASADA include
Danny's former P.E. teacher, Keith Rhodes (the one responsible for
blowing up the truck) and Kim, who helps out during the day.
It is discovered that a virtual concentration camp has been erected
outside of Skipley, on the grounds of the Kershaw Farm, with the
remaining able-bodied population of the town being used as slave labor
under the Commissioner's rule. From a series of defectors, Danny learns
that conditions at the camp are reminiscent of those at Belsen. As a
result, the members of MASADA are forced to step up their campaign of
resistance, and, one night, launch a raid on the camp. After a battle, the
Commissioner is overthrown, and Branwell is established as the new
leader.
However, in the months that follow the raid, all of the newly-planted crops
fail, due to the effects of radiation poisoning. Meanwhile, Kim's sister
(Maureen) is pregnant, and Kim is worried that the baby may be

deformed; in the end, it is born without a mouth, and dies not long
afterwards.
Foreign troops arrive via helicopter, revealing there were communities all
over Europe like Branwell's, which he terms a "commune" or "communist"
society. Believing the Swiss troops would rescue them, the camp foolishly
eat many of their rations. In fact, the Swiss confiscate their weapons, and
disable the few vehicles they have. By now, the camp's food supplies are
exhausted, forcing the people to scavenge for whatever they can find,
and many are dying. Gradually, people start to leave in small groups to
fend for themselves. Shortly after Branwell dies from exhaustion during
the second winter after the war, Danny, Kim, and Ben leave the camp and
head to Holy Island, where Danny hopes they will be safe.
During the journey to Holy Island, the three encounter a group on
motorbikes (Rhodes being one of them) in the village of Osmotherley.
Rhodes is about to shoot Danny for the food that he'd found down the
side of a sink in a caf, but Kim intervenes with a gun, and Rhodes and
his buddy are killed.
Ben becomes ill with radiation sickness otherwise known as a "creeping
dose" and dies. Danny and Kim bury him in the garden of an empty
house. In the house, Danny finds a ledger, and starts writing an account
of his experiences after the war. He ends by saying that he plans to leave
his account behind for future generations to read; he hopes it will warn
them not to go down the path which led to the war. Finally, Danny
dedicates his story to Ben, his "brother in the land."
In 1994, the book was reprinted with a "new final chapter." In this revised
ending, Ben still dies, but, rather than leave his account behind, Danny
takes the ledger with him to Holy Island, and Kim is expecting a baby, the
third of Holy Island, with Danny being the father. If the baby survives, it
will be named "Ben."

Brother in the Land | Themes

Greed
In these desperate times, there was no law and rule and people believed
in getting as much resources as they possibly could and also to gain
power over the others so that they could claim their selves fittest for
survival and live a better and relaxed life not caring for others.
Throughout the play, people had greed for food, for example:

Danny pointed a gun at the Cartwrights just to get food even

though he had plenty of his own food at his home for the moment.
People were greedy to preserve food is also evident when Mr.
Cartwright shot a kid named Charlie, just to save a few tins of food.
Greed for power and weapons is evident when:

Rhodes blew up the tank of the Civil Defense Team and also killed
Dannys father, Richard.
Also, Captain Thiery took over weapons of MASADA and the Civil
Defense Team instead of helping the sick and injured people.
Another example of greed for power is that when the Civil Defense
Team poisoned the wells and water so the people would be their slaves
and depend on them for food and other basic necessities.
Greed for land is shown when:

Captain Thiery takes over the land and announces that the location
was now under his command.
Fight between MASADA and the Civil Defense Team was also for the
control of the land as Shadow Man says that it was a bitter fight for the
bitter earth.
Greed for hope, love and peace, for example:

Danny had a dream about some monkeys who were snatching away
the flowers from him and he dreamed of peace and safety of his parents
which shows his desire for peace and also shows his wish that everything
would turn back to normal as he saw a newspaper headline in his dream
that Peace breaks out!
Survival of the fittest
Only fit people can survive the harsh conditions in such drastic
encounters. In this world the fittest people can be the ones who are
physically strong and can take care of themselves and their families, who
are morally strong, who can fight for their rights, who can face any
difficulty with composure, courage and determination without losing hope

and the ones who are willing to live and believe life is for living not
wishing for death.

Danny mentally fit he was able to maintain his composure even

after his parents death. He didnt let his sorrow take over when everyone
around him was depressed. He always gave hope to people around him,
especially to Kim. He had the will to live as he was always hoping to be
rescued and seeing smiles on peoples faces just because they had their
food.
Civil Defense Team and MASADA powerful and resourceful the
Civil Defense Team had a lot of people working for them and also had a
lot of food, which helped them to survive. They had weapons and icy
control over resources to make people do their biddings.
Kim physically fit she was healthy and ready to fight and protect
herself (she fought bravely with Chris and Tracey when they were after
her food and was ready to kill and to keep her things safe) and thus was
able to survive till the end like Danny.
Maureen and Mike physically fit- when they went to the Kershaws
farm to spy, they were called well fed.
People who were injured or had lost their senses were not able to
survive in these harsh conditions as they were poisoned and shot by the
people who were actually supposed to help them i.e. the Civil Defense
Team.
Friendship
This play portrays the examples of the most loyal friendships which were
formed in the most difficult situations. Many characters can be seen as
the biggest supporters of their friends and gave each other hope when all
seems lost.

Danny and Kim --- they supported each other in difficult times.
Danny saved Kims life from Chris and Tracey when they attacked her with
a thick chain and tried to snatch her bag full of food. Whenever Danny,
the optimist, lost hope Kim was there to bring his hopes up. Danny was
always hopeful and tried to bring Kims hopes up whenever she was
getting pessimistic. Kim was ready to risk her life and go save Danny
when he was captured by the Civil Defense Team.
Danny and Alec Booth --- Alec Booth saved the life of Danny when he
was captured by the civil defense team, he pretended to kill him and
afterwards let him go. Alec again saved Dannys life when MASADA took
over Kershaws farm. Danny tried to save Alecs life when Rhodes was
about to shoot him by saying Hes on our side but was unsuccessful.
Danny and Ben --- both brothers loved each other very well and were
friends even though before the blast they fought over normal issues but

after the attack Danny took care of his brother, carried him when he was
tired and fed him. Ben diverted the attention of Rhodes when he was
pointing a gun at them and as a result lost his life.
Desperate times call for desperate measures
Desperate times are the difficult times in which no one can even imagine
going through them. Desperate measures are the actions which are taken
in these difficult times to survive. Throughout the play we come across
the examples in which we see characters taking desperate steps in this
difficult situation which they would never take in the normal
circumstances.

Danny pointed a gun at innocent family at Sophie Cartwrights house

just for a few tins of beans.
Mr. Cartwright shot a kid named Charlie to save his food supply.
Finch shot all the injured people in the hospital to save the medical
supplies and food and justified his actions by saying desperate times call
for desperate measures.
Renton and Laycock joined MASADA after MASADA defeated the Civil
Defense Team and they had no other way to survive.
People were working at Kershaws farm as slaves of the Civil Defense
Team just for accommodation, food and water.
Walker and Rhodes ran away with months supply of food so that
they both of them could live a healthy life and stay fit without caring for
others.
Civil Defense Team poisoned the well so that they could control the
water supply and the people would be forced to work at the farm.
Civil Defense Team poisoned the food of the sick and injured people
so that they wouldnt have to treat them or take care of them.

Brother in the Land | Character Sketches

Character Sketch of Rhodes

P.E. teacher at a school in Skipley.

Wore black track suit.

Holds a whistle.

Strict --- when the students were not serious during the assembly
presentation, he informed them clearly of what their lives would be like in
case a nuclear explosion would take place. He had Danny on the
detention on the day of the nuclear attack.
Extremist --- he was obsessed with the war.
Cruel --- he didnt care for human life. He blew up the tank of the
Civil Defense Team without considering that blowing it up might kill
innocent people and blowing up the tank meant blowing up the supplies
as well and this way no one got benefit and Richard also died.
Believes in survival of the fittest --- when he killed Richard he
casually asked Danny that long time no see and he was not at all affected
by what he had done. He also killed Alec Booth without considering that
he was a friend and didnt deserve to die.
Danny disliked him and introduced him by saying, this is Rhodes,
and he likes killing people. And also Danny said that anyone who was a
friend of Rhodes was his enemy.
Selfish --- he ran away with Commissioner Walker with a lot of food
without caring how the people will survive without it.
Character Sketch of Branwell

He had leadership qualities --- he was calm when Rhodes blew up

the tank and reprimanded him calmly. He lowered Rhodes weapon when
he was ready to shoot anyone who got in his way.
He was middle aged.
He had strong will power --- he led MASADA to victory against the
Civil Defense Team.
Believed in desperate times call for desperate measures. When
Dannys father was killed, he was not feeling guilty about the attack but
consoled Danny by saying that he didnt mean it to happen this way. Or
this was not meant to happen.
Cared for others --- when he found out Dannys and Bens parents
had died, he offered to take care of them and tried to convince them to
come with him or they would be killed out there in the cruel world. He

also welcomed Mrs. Troy and Craig into the MASADA when Danny told
that Mrs. Troy was a family friend.

Kind --- took care of others. He also took Danny and Ben in when
they were found unconscious after wandering alone and hungry. People of
MASADA were well fed as the Civil Defense Team thought Maureen and
her friend looked well fed. It proves he took care of people under his
command.
Intelligent --- after taking over Kershaws farm and defeating the
Civil Defense Team he didnt kill people unnecessarily but worked with
them for betterment in life.
Character Sketch of Shadow Man

Had long white hair.

Had great beard.

Shabby clothes.

Old.

Shadow Man is Denny telling his life story in the history class to
other students.

Mesmerizing effects of his sayings.

He portrays situation from everyones perspective.

Deep thinker --- his sayings have deeper meanings always.

His speeches were poetic.

Honest and emotional --- he truly reflects the conditions of the

people and typical conditions in which people are living after the war.
You cant put an atom back again. It means that the time never
comes back, whats done is done, it cant come back.
Shadow Man mentions an old man and a baby who refers to hope
and experience of life.
He believes weakness is great power; at certain stages of life that a
weak person becomes fearless, for example Danny.
Shadow Man is able to describe the feelings of people in a very
touching manner as when Danny and Ben were wandering around after
their fathers death alone, hungry and hopeless, he said, Starved of love,
starved of hope.
He has hoped for life as he says, Life is for living not for wishing for
death.

Character Sketch of Finch

He was second in command after Commissioner Walker.

He was councilor of the local government.

Cruel --- he killed all the badly injured people who came for medical
treatment to the makeshift hospital at the Kershaws farm.
Proud --- he considered himself important and was ready to hide in
the bunker for a long time so he can be safe from the blast in case
Commissioner Walker died and he had to take over.
Selfish --- he was well fed when people surrounding him who were
his responsibility were living in cruel environment. As Renton said that he
was the well fed looking one usually accompanied by couple of armed
guards. He enjoyed Christmas with wine and good food with his Civil
Defense Team when people desperately needed food and medical
supplies.
He justified all the killings and his cruel acts of killing innocent
people by saying desperate times call to desperate measures. He had no
respect for mankind.
Played God by killing people which he thought were injured and not
going to survive and he also thought that it was a waste to spend food
and medical supplies on them.
Power hungry --- he along with his team made people slaves and
made them work at the farm in very cruel conditions.
Character Sketch of Kim

15 years old girl.

Tomboy --- she didnt worry about her appearance. She was ready to
fight like boys and considered she was independent and capable of taking
care of herself.
Came to visit her sister at the time of the nuclear attack.
Pessimistic --- whenever Danny said things were going to get better
she said that she didnt think so. Whenever Danny thought that he was
going to get rescued she thought he was being silly.
Short tempered --- she was ready to kill Chris when he tried to steal
her bag pack full of food.
Didnt believe in God --- she thought God wouldnt kill so many
people.

Didnt believe in help of God --- she said, Dear God, thanks for
killing everyone else and leaving us to live in this hell hole for the rest of
our life.
Believed in the survival of the fittest --- she was ready to kill anyone
who was there to hurt her as she said to Danny when he asked her why
she was about to kill Chris that he would have done the same to her.
Brave and loyal --- she volunteered to participate in the attack on
the Civil Defense Team even though it was very dangerous.
Appeared hard and harsh but soft and caring from the heart --- she
was polite to Ben and shared her food with Ben when he was hungry.
Caring friend --- she gave Danny courage when he lost hope after
Bens death.
She thought things once gone wrong couldnt be amended or fixed
as she had no hope for the future.
Always felt negative things about the others --- she didnt trust
Danny even though he saved her life from Chris and Tracey and said to
him if he tried to steal her food she will hurt him.
She joined MASADA but she wasnt ready to kill innocent people like
Rhodes.
Tough --- she was able to survive alone before she joined MASADA or
met Danny.
Character Sketch of Danny

Fun and energetic.

Has great sense of humour.

15 years old.

Lives in Skipley.

British.

Hated his hometown in the beginning because he thought it was

boring.
Optimistic --- after attack he thought that he was going to be
rescued and he thought that after eating food all the people looked happy
as their stomachs were full and he also expected things that they would
get better.
Sentimental and emotional --- he got angry when his father died and
lost hope for a while when he says to Branwell it is better to die rather

than to live in this world. He couldnt control his anger when Rhodes killed
his friend who had saved him from the Civil Defense Team.

Caring brother --- took care of Ben as he gave him his coat when he
was cold and also carried him when he was tired.
Good judge of character --- he knew from the start that Rhodes was
a cruel man with a cruel tendency to hurt people. Kim over exaggerated
the hopelessness of the situation. Branwell was a good man.
Kim thought that he was nave because he expected the good from
people and hoped for the best even in the worst situations.
Brave and intelligent --- he bravely fought with the Civil Defense
Team and didnt panic or lose control when he was caught by the Civil
Defense Team. He pretended to be a spacer so the team wouldnt force
him to reveal any secrets of the MASADA.
Loyal --- he didnt reveal the secrets of the MASADA. He saved Kim
when she was in trouble.
Felt guilty after pointing a gun at the Cartwrights.
Valued human life --- he stopped Kim from killing Chris. He did not
volunteer for the ambush because he thought innocent people died in
such attacks he said, not always the right people get killed.