"Men at Arms"

Analytical Essay # 25929

English > Analysis
Literature > English

A review of the story "Men at Arms" by Terry Pratchett with an emphasis on the characters of Corporal Carrot and Captain Vimes

1,941 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2002 | United States

Published on: May 04, 2003

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the simple fable of "Men at Arms" written by Terry Pratchett, one of the stories of the Discworld series in which Ankh-Morpork is a triumphant plutocracy of Guilds over the shaky balance of different ethnic groups. It discusses how only the leaders of the City Guard happened to be able to restrain the city elements and how this makes them the main characters of the book. In particular it looks at the characters of Corporal Carrot and Captain Vimes with a character analysis and a look at their contribution to the story.

From the Paper:

"Samuel Vimes was in charge of the Night Watch, a job that largely involved getting drunk and keeping out of trouble. However, after the arrival of Carrot in "Men at Arms", he has found himself called upon to straighten up and actually take command. In this book we see him as a classic police officer. He is decent, even to some extent ascetic, pedantic, man of principle; he perfectly follows the law; he is observant and acute. And furthermore, he is planning to marry the richest widow in Ankh-Morpork and to resign. So, we see a classic police commissar working during his last days before the retirement and hoping that in several routine days he will become a civil man."