“THE SNIPER” Why, after centuries of futile destruction, does man persist in waging war? In the short story “The Sniper” by Liam O’ Flaherty, the author focuses on the Irish civil war of the 1920’s. On a Dublin roof, a republican soldier struggles to destroy his enemy. Although the sniper is an experienced and ingenious combatant, the story’s outcome clearly conveys an anti-war theme. As General Sherman observed, “War is hell.” The sniper is a veteran of war: his eyes are those of a man “who is used to looking at death” (O’ Flaherty 1).
In the novel Three Day Road, Elijah Weesageechak and his best friend Xavier Bird, two Cree aboriginals, fight as a sniper team in WW1. Elijah becomes corrupted by the war which leads to his ultimate demise. The war transforms Elijah into an emotionless killing machine. His transformation was due to the loss of his identity, his quest for fame through war, and the use of morphine to escape reality. In the beginning, when Elijah joined the army he quickly wanted to fit in with the other soldiers.
Chapter 4 Main events Introduction of the word Conrad: One of the biggest events of this chapter is the introduction of the word Conrad. The narrator talks about the snipers and what will happen to them when they are discovered. He continues on to say “ He will utter that magical word, Conrad; then we will strike him down”. The word Conrad means friend, the Germans are in the exact same situation as them; so the word Conrad shows that they are equal and when used in battle they surrender. However, we learn that the word has no meaning to the soldiers as they would kill the sniper and any German soldier.
Harrison has made this clear to the readers by putting scenario after scenario of unexpected events right in the narrator’s face. It is through what the narrator experiences that we glimpse the true nature of war. In ‘Back to the Round’, the narrator and company have to move around the trenches on their bellies. This is because there is a sniper in the trees which causes a constant fear of death. Although they identify that there is a sniper, they still fear him because they cannot discern exactly when he will strike.
Paragraphs 2: Topic Sentence: You friend cannot be your friend forever. Interest is a thing which is stay with you before you die. (Nature Conflict)(similar) “The Sniper”: The Republican sniper need to survive and Republican need to win, he kills his brother, although he know that after he killed. “Strike Back” Hugh Collinson who is the team member of John Potter team in 2003, they are taking a mission to rescue the hostages. John let the child who is opposite and bind with a bomb.
Towards the end of the novel, Lennie is also secretly shot in the same place with the same weapon by George out of mercy so his friend doesn’t experience a cruel painful death. Both the deaths followed the paradox “cruel to be kind” as it was only to prevent the dog and Lennie more pain and hurt in the future. However, George killed his friend himself to make sure he was
At one point Junger mentions, “…behind every traverse lurked catastrophe, ready to pluck its next chance victim (51).” Later Ernst Junger gives a description of such a situation. While leading an entrenchment party one of the soldiers is shot. The fallen man’s fellow comrades decide to stay posted at their positions longer in attempt to exact revenge for a man who was married with four children. Once Junger provides these details, we understand how personal the war truly was. Soldiers were not just pawns, but actual men with actual lives off of the battle
400 years age, killing was a part of everyday, natural life. The people of these times believed that to have your father be murdered and runaway and not do anything to find out who has killed your father, the King of Scotland, was very cowardly. The audience was expecting Malcolm to become King of Scotland and then find out who murdered his father. Then he would have them either killed or throw in prison. This did not happen so the audience must think Malcolm and Donalbain are
I can’t shoot that well and you know it!’ ” (127) When Atticus is put in the spot to shoot the dog, it is a courageous act because if Atticus does not kill the dog he knows that it will turn around and attack him due to being rabid it will attack anyone and if Atticus shoots someone’s house he would end up in jail for murder. Another example of how Atticus is courageous was when he stands his ground against a drunk mob trying to kill Tom Robinson. Since Heck Tate is called off on duty, he had no support at all. “ ‘You know what we want’ another man said ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch’ ‘You turn around and go home Walter,’ Atticus said pleasantly.” (202) Atticus risks his own life
He proves that he is not in the quote “He remembered kissing her good night at the dorm door. Right then, he thought, he should’ve done something brave,” maybe his cowardice is what motivated him to sign up for the war and prove to Martha that he was man enough and maybe this act of his would make her love him like he loved her. Later on in the story Lieutenant Cross ends up burning the letters and photographs that he has been carrying after his platoon mate and friend Ted Lavender is shot and killed. This is a turning point for the character as he blames himself for the death of his friend. “Slowly a bit distracted, he would get up and move among his men checking the perimeter, then at full dark he would return to