The little man's face became a battlefield on which rage

The little man’s face became a battlefield on which rage, misery and a respect for the decencies of social life struggled for mastery.
(a) Who is the little man referred to?
(b) What does the expression “face became a battlefield” mean?
© What did the decencies of social life demand from ‘the little man’?

(a) The little man referred to is ‘Jerry Fisher’.
(b) It means that there were different emotions seen on his face. His face showed signs of conflict.
© The decencies of social life demanded that he behave like a gentleman in a lady’s presence.