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Chapter 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in War Horse, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Dignity and Humanity
Hope and Loss
Love and Loyalty
The Horrors of War
Summary
Analysis
In the happy days after his reunion with Albert, Joey almost forgets about the horrors of the war. Major Martin cleans and closes his wound, and he seems to be healing well at first. Albert spends as much time with Joey as possible, and the other veterinary orderlies also enjoy visiting the famous animal. But one day, Joey loses his appetite and suddenly finds the sounds of the stables and yard beyond intolerably loud. When Albert comes to visit, Joey can barely stand the noise and movement of his beloved friend, and he startles into the corner of his stall. Alarmed, Albert summons David, Sergeant Thunder, and Major Martin.
Although the war seems to be far removed from the sunny confines of the animal hospital, it has a long and deadly reach. Unbeknownst to Albert or anyone else, Joey’s body has harbored a ticking-time bomb of infection that brings the horrors of the war—including the barbed wire on which he cut himself and the disease-laden muck of the front lines—roaring back to the front of everyone’s mind.
Themes
Major Martin and Sergeant Thunder carefully examine Joey before the Sergeant declares that the horse has an almost certainly fatal case of tetanus. Major Martin tells Albert that it will be kinder to end the animal’s suffering quickly. But Albert begs his superior officers to do something. David supports his friend, recalling Major Martin’s words when the orderlies arrived at the hospital. He told them how important the Army’s horses are to the war effort and told them to never give up on the animals. Although Sergeant Thunder chides David for speaking out of turn to an officer, Major Martin takes his words to heart. Warning Albert that there’s only a slim chance Joey will survive, and it will be hard work to take care of him through the illness, he explains what Albert must do.
Martin and Thunder clearly care about the animals in their care and treat them with respect and dignity—unlike other perfunctory caregivers, like Samuel Perkins. While Martin holds an initially pragmatic view of Joey’s chances, Thunder makes an impassioned plea for the value of Joey’s life. He, David, and Albert possess an unshaking belief in the dignity and worth of Joey’s life even though he’s not a human. And, in a book where the way a person treats animals proves their own humanity, in the end, the decision to try to save Joey shows Martin, Thunder, Albert, David and the rest to be superlative examples of humanity.
Themes
Major Martin cleans and re-cauterizes Joey’s wound. The soldiers suspend him from a sling to keep him standing. They block out the light and limit the sound around the stall for Joey’s comfort, and they feed him thin oatmeal gruel that won’t choke him. For weeks, Albert spends almost all his time caring for Joey, while still carrying out the rest of his duties. Joey becomes sicker, but he fights for his life, heartened by the love and support he receives from Albert, David, the Major, Sergeant Thunder, and the rest of the men. And then, in the middle of one night, he suddenly feels better. He nickers quietly and wakes up Albert, who has been sleeping in the stall with him.
Earlier, Joey’s attentiveness to Topthorn through his illness proved his love and loyalty to the grand black horse; the book also strongly implies that the strength of their relationship helped Topthorn to survive for as long as he did. Now, Albert has a chance to repay Joey’s love by nursing him through tetanus. And their mutual devotion inspires the rest of the people around them to become invested in Joey’s care. And this overflowing of love proves to be an important component of Joey’s survival, too.
Themes
Albert and David shout with happiness; within minutes, the noise of their celebration has drawn all of the orderlies and Sergeant Thunder into the stable. Albert wants reassurance that Joey will be alright, and Sergeant Thunder confirms that he will, thanks to such diligent nursing. A few days later, they take Joey out of the sling, and Albert slowly and gently leads him into the bright, sunshiny yard. He promises that the war will be over soon, and they’ll be able to go home together. Albert can’t wait to see the look on the farmer’s face when they come riding up the road together.
Albert’s newfound hope in the wake of not only reuniting with Joey but also nursing him through tetanus against nearly impossible odds, fires his conviction that the war will soon end; hope begets hope. The book continues to argue that hope is essential for living, and that the love and loyalty between Albert and Joey makes it easy for each to hope and dream about the future they will share.
Themes
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