The Return of the Soldier (1982) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Chris suffers from shell-shock, a psychological condition that has erased his memory of his married life. When he returns from the war, he only recalls his past before the marriage, including his childhood sweetheart Margaret Grey. His mind has retreated to a happier time before the war, and he associate Margaret with that period of innocence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Chris appeared withdrawn and distant at his farewell party, showing signs of psychological strain before even leaving for the Front.

• shell-shock
• amnesia
• memory loss
• margaret grey
• psychological trauma

Anderson observes that Chris is genuinely happy in his childlike state, free from the traumatic memories of war and the grief of losing his son. He argues that forcing Chris to recall these horrors would be cruel, and that his current happiness is preferable to restoring his painful memories.

Foreshadowing: The doctor notes how content Chris is with Margaret, contrasting sharply with his distant behavior before the war.

• doctor anderson
• shell-shock treatment
• psychology
• war trauma
• cure

Chris's shell-shock has caused him to regress psychologically to a simpler time in his life. His mind has blocked out the traumas of war and adult responsibilities, including his marriage and parenthood. This regression manifests as innocent enjoyment of simple pleasures like walking and watching the river.

Foreshadowing: Chris was already withdrawn and distant at his farewell party, suggesting psychological fragility.

• regression
• shell-shock
• psychological trauma
• innocence
• war psychological effects

Chris and Kitty had a son who died from illness. Chris has no memory of this loss due to his shell-shock. The child died while Chris was away at war, and Kitty has been grieving this loss alone.

Foreshadowing: Kitty is desperate to restore the 'authoritative pre-war man' she married, hinting at unresolved grief and marital strain.

• son
• death
• grief
• kitty
• family loss

When Margaret tells Chris about his lost son, the emotional shock pierces through his psychological barriers. This painful memory acts as a catalyst, forcing him to confront his adult identity and responsibilities. The realization of what he has lost, along with his sense of duty, brings him back to his pre-war self.

Foreshadowing: Doctor Anderson describes the lost child as a potential 'spur' that could cure him, foreshadowing this exact mechanism.

• memory restoration
• emotional shock
• cure
• fatherhood
• loss

Kitty reluctantly agrees to Doctor Anderson's suggestion that Chris and Margaret spend time together, hoping it might lead to his recovery. Additionally, Margaret's husband William Green supports the arrangement, showing unusual compassion. Kitty's desperation to have her husband back, even at the cost of her pride, motivates her consent.

Foreshadowing: Margaret's telegram about Chris arriving ill sets up her importance to the story from the very beginning.

• kitty
• margaret
• joint decision
• marriage
• acceptance

Chris and Margaret were childhood sweethearts who fell deeply in love. However, Chris's parents opposed the match due to Margaret's working-class background. They were forcibly parted, had a quarrel, and eventually lost touch entirely, each marrying other people. Their reunion reignites this lost first love.

Foreshadowing: Margaret arrives with a telegram claiming Chris is ill, showing she is the one he specifically asked for, hinting at their shared past.

• childhood sweetheart
• class differences
• parents
• forbidden love
• past relationship

The ending is bittersweet because Chris's memory is restored, he becomes 'every inch a soldier' again, but this comes at a terrible cost. He loses his childlike happiness with Margaret and will likely be sent back to the horrors of the Western Front. Kitty 'wins' her husband back, but his return to war means she may lose him forever. His recovery is both a victory and a tragedy.

Foreshadowing: Jenny's observation that Chris looks 'every inch a soldier' as he strides toward the house signals his return to his wartime self.

• ending
• bitter
• sweet
• war
• death
• recovery
• tragedy

No, Chris is not faking. His memory loss is a genuine symptom of shell-shock, a real psychological condition among WWI veterans. When Kitty initially suspects he might be shamming, the doctors confirm his condition is authentic. His regression to a childlike state and his inability to recognize his wife are real psychological responses to wartime trauma.

Foreshadowing: Kitty's suspicion that Chris might be 'shamming' is quickly dispelled when the medical expert confirms his genuine shell-shock diagnosis.

• faking
• shell-shock
• authentic
• medical
• diagnosis