We can tell that the writer resents and is frustrated by his father as it says “and he being him can’t help but say.......... and I, being me” which shows that he is frustrated at their relationship. However the Harmonium is used to describe his father so therefore his family life whereas in Nettles it is reversed. The Nettles, that had caused pain for the boy, is actually describing soldiers and war therefore the underlying message is not about family but about war and the underlying message
The biblical allusion of the term ‘angel’ symbolises a moral conscience, in the hope of changing Abrams mind, as well as on a didactic level, symbolising the mothers and loved ones of the soldiers. This signifies the hope of reconciliation of the people who care about the soldiers, highlighting the horrific situation in which the soldiers reside and the governments deliberate inaction to do anything. Owen uses the bureaucracy’s pride and personifies it as a ‘Ram’ because it can be seen to the audience as arrogant and steadfast. This emphasizes the bureaucracy’s resolute notion on the use of conscription and the taking of many young men by force. By identifying the unjust experiences felt by the soldiers, Owen shed light upon the action of which the bureaucracy intends to
The repetition of question marks and dashes illustrate the confusion and frustration witnessing Owens fellow comrades, it is a demanding tone begging for explanation for the entrapment of victims. And as a result, it encourages the reader to consider the impact the war had on both, the soldiers who survived, and those who didn’t. Dulce et Decorum Est brings to reality that war is not what people say it is. Given by its very title, ‘It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’. Although, it only an illusion reinforced throughout the poem, along with its irony and sarcasm that is ‘The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori’, it is not sweet and fitting to die for ones country.
Sassoon uses blameful language to describe the ruthless of government in order to reveal the ugly hidden massage as settling the situation. At the beginning of the poem, he uses the phrase “simple” (l.1) to imply innocence, as well as using “solider boy” (l.1) to adumbrate the character is in his early age. The unfriendly government that currently send young soldiers into a dreadful condition. The phrase “crumps and lice” (l.6) describes the terrible hygienic conditions in the army environment. Lacking of aims in the army originates from the nerves and sadden, hence they need a way to relief, “lack of rum” (l.6) defines rum was given to troops, steadying nerves, increasing confidence and forget.
Initially, having been convinced that war is a glorious act of patriotism, the writers felt downright betrayed by the previous generation, once coming to the haunting realization that war is the opposite of what had been conveyed to them. For example in All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul’s teacher, Kantorek, represents this despised upon generation as he goes to great extent to intensely convince the whole class to go to war until finally they succumbed to “under his shepherding” (11). The generation that Kantorek represents had a misleading portrayal of war, as Germany had not gone to war during their youth and therefor they had no clue of what consequences their greedy and impulsive decisions would bring about on these shapeable young men. This misconception proved to be lethal as it created the all-popular vibe that war is a glorious event that always leads to better futures. In addition, in the poem “Arms and the Boy”, Owen describes an omniscient group who “let the boy try along this bayonet-blade” (line 1).
Bailey Smith Dr. John Harvey Honors 2301 17 October 2012 Blurred in the Eyes of Ignorance The line between friendship and enmity is blurred in Sophocles’ Ajax, a play that addresses time, pity, loyalty, and authority. Ajax, a man of strength and courage, feels that he is under-appreciated by his peers and leaders for his actions on the battlefield, and consequently, he snaps in an impetuous rage against his own people. Following the emergence of these two intertwined conflicts, Ajax’s perception of friendship and loyalty becomes distorted, giving him a sense of impermanence and selfishness; however, it is through his own actions that this false understanding arises. Ajax quickly concludes that friendship is transient because self-centered needs oftentimes initiate and fill these relationships. Even though friendship is supposed to be a place of protection and trust, loyalty within these bonds seems nonexistent.
Owen seems to suggest that the artificialities of love pale in comparison to the true honour and love of men on the battlefield – men who cough, struggle, and die. Owen is calling attention to the authenticity of these soldiers' actions and finding within them meaning Alternatively this can interpreted as the soldier has a somewhat erotic feeling towards war and aspects of war e.g patriotism and his doubts for example Red lips are not so red” . shows that Owen is losing interest in fighting the war as he comes to realize its true form. This is then emphasized in line 5 with “your eyes lose lure”. Which show a versions of reality theme which is also found in another Owen poem; Dulce Et Decorum est where Owen shows the horrors of war and uses it to send a message to people at home who are as he refers to a common patriotic quote as “ The old lie”.
Unfortunately, Doodle was no match for his brother’s aggressive and selfish actions. In the end, Brother’s pride is to blame for Doodle’s untimely death. Brother’s pride was responsible for his opinion of Doodle. At times, Brother was kind and loving to Doodle, but the reader soon realizes that the narrator was mostly harsh and cruel to his brother. In the beginning of the story, Brother recounts the day Doodle was born, saying that he was a disappointment as soon as he entered the world.
The poet is saying that people should not talk about war as enthusiastically as it gives the impression that war is glorious. Furthermore, he says that the idea that ’it is sweet and right’ to die for your country is entirely untrue. Through this, we are able to form the opinion that war is not okay because it is a serious thing that carries many negative consequences. In Wilfred Owen’s poem Dolce et Decorum est, the use of similes conveys the harsh reality of war on soldiers as it changes them dramatically and kills the majority of them. In the first two lines of the poem, Owen uses the similes “Bent double like old beggars under sacks, knocked kneed, coughing like hags” to paint a grim picture in readers minds of how the soldiers were.
Owen also seeks to expose the betrayal of the authorities throughout poems such as ‘Disabled’ and ‘The parable of the old man and the young.’ He expresses how they acted with a disregard for the lives of their countries young men. Religion and its betrayal during the war is also emphasized by Wilfred Owen in ‘Anthem for doomed youth.’ He shows how the belief in religion did nothing to dampen the grim realities of war and he even begins to question his own beliefs. Another way Owen feels he has been betrayed is through the way society treated those soldiers who had suffered both mental and physical injuries. They were labelled as cowards and looked down upon. This is best shown in the poem ‘Disabled.’ Owen was ultimately driven by the betrayal of the authorities, religion and society and he used his horrifying experiences of the war to exemplify this betrayal.