The beginning of World War I marks the beginning of various changes to take place in the Grantham family. This week's episode begins by jumping forward two years into the war. Cousin Matthew has gone away to fight in the war and has not been in Downton for quite some time. Lady Mary tries to act like this doesn't bother and that she no longer has feelings for Matthew but when he returns for a short visit with his new fiance, her emotions are clear as day.Lady Sybil makes more of an effort to break out of the cultural bondage she lives in as a woman in the early 1900s. She wishes to become more involved in the war efforts so she learns to cook in the hopes that she will at some point have the opportunity to become a nurse for wounded soldiers. Mr. Bates and Anna take their relationship to a new level by talking about marriage and children. Even Lord Grantham is brought into the loop as they begin making plans for the future. Things take an unexpected turn when Bates' wife shows up in Downton with blackmail on him and demands he leaves town with her immediately with no explanation. The motive behind this is that when Bates' mother died he came into a small fortune. His wife is obviously very interested in this. Ms. O'Brien overhears the conversation and shares it with Carson. For the past two years Thomas has also been fighting the war, but reluctantly so. By the end of the episode Thomas purposely gets shot in the hand so he can leave the war and return to the home-front. The entire episode William struggles with feeling like a coward because he is not fighting in the war. He continually wants to go to war but his father forbids it. Branson reveals his feelings to Lady Sybil upon dropping her off for her new nurses job. She does not express any feelings in return. This episode had many new romances finally revealed.
One theme that can be found in this episode of Downton Abbey is the universal view of war. It is assumed fighting for one's country is considered the right thing to do. As a result, one is wrong if they are not at the front-lines defending their country. This is seen in William's conflicting feelings of shamefulness for not being at war. At the same time, the idea of Thomas becoming injured on purpose so that he could return home would be frowned upon because of this universal view of war. In Downton Abbey, it seems as though Cousin Matthew is the only one fulfilling this view. This view can be seen in this episode during an event the Grantham's household. Some young women get into the event somehow and begin handing out white flowers to every man not in a uniform. This implied that these men were cowards standing by while others died for the country. This view of war is huge in this episode of Downton Abbey.
It is expected that William feels so much regret for not enlisting and going away to fight in the war. Because of the societal view that has been impressed upon him, it is normal for him to be feeling this way. However, it is important that we look at his specific situation. William's mother has recently passed and he is the only son of his father. Scripture says that "if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family..." (1 Timothy 5:4). Later on in 1 Timothy Paul says "if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This is also seen in Jesus' own life. While dying on the cross Jesus tells one of his disciples to become his mother's son. From that point on, the disciple brought Mary into his own home and cared for her (John 26-27). The Word clearly shows that we are to have certain priorities in our lives. Caring for relatives is a top priority; therefor, in this sense, William is doing the honorable thing by staying in Downton and not going off to fight in the war.
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