Final answer:
Harry's reasons for going to war serve to confront the audience with the absurdity and existential conundrums of war, jolt them from complacency, and present the tension between duty and the harsh realities of warfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons for Harry's going to war in the play serve several functions in storytelling and thematic presentation. Firstly, they highlight the complex human condition when faced with the absurdities of war, as war often lacks the apparent or coherent logic we seek in life.
Through this, the play attempts to shake the audience out of their complacency, which is seen as partly responsible for the horrors of war. Secondly, the play seeks to emphasize that we are alone in a seemingly meaningless world, grappling with existential conundrums.
This realization can be paradoxically liberating, potentially allowing audience members to move beyond their previous perceptions and engage more critically with the world around them.
Lastly, Harry’s reasons connect with the larger purpose and theme of the play by introducing a conflict, where decisions such as going to war are re-examined, and the tension between one’s duties and the realities of warfare are put on full display, challenging the glorification of war and the treatment of soldiers.