Disabled and Dulce et Decorum est’ Essay Example
Disabled and Dulce et Decorum est’ Essay Example

Disabled and Dulce et Decorum est’ Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (652 words)
  • Published: August 19, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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During World War I, Wilfred Owen witnessed unimaginable events that are hard for modern society to comprehend. Nevertheless, he managed to express the harrowing incidents in a way that elicits empathy from those who have never experienced trench warfare. Owen was successful in conveying his emotions and observations from the war.

In his poem 'Dulce et Decorum est', Wilfred Owen directs his message towards Jessie Pope, a writer for the "Daily Mail" who encouraged young men to enlist in the war by likening it to a game. The poem vividly depicts the grim reality of life as a soldier, starting with detailed descriptions of their appearance and physical state in the trenches. Owen's portrayal of soldiers as coughing and worn down, "like old beggars," emphasizes the harsh and demoralizing conditions they faced. His use of phrases such as

...

"floundering like a man in fire or lime" evokes the desperation and struggle that defined their daily existence. As someone who has experienced similar environments, I can't help but imagine how infuriating it must have been to face such treacherous and difficult conditions during war.

In later sections of the poem, Owen shifts his focus from the psychological impacts of war to its physical toll. He vividly describes the gruesome deaths of fellow soldiers due to gas attacks by comparing the color of the gas to that of a green sea and lime. To enhance the reader's understanding of the events he witnessed, Owen employs figurative language and onomatopoeic words like 'guttering' and 'choking'. Finally, in the last stanza, Owen directly addresses Jessie Pope's war propaganda which he believes misleads young men, like himself, into joining

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the military.

During war, propaganda is often presented in a patriotic and rhythmic manner, which contrasts with the bitter and sarcastic tone found in "Disabled" and "Dulce et Decorum est." The author of these poems expresses disbelief that someone like Jessie Pope, who encouraged war from afar, could grasp the harsh reality of it. He satirically refers to her as his "friend," attacking her sentimental support for war despite having no experience with it. Essentially, she will never be a spectator to this deadly "game." Meanwhile, "Disabled" focuses on the physical and mental toll that war takes on soldiers in its aftermath.

Set in a hospital, the poem depicts fellow war casualties receiving medical attention. The opening stanza features a legless veteran observing children frolicking outdoors; words such as "pleasures" and "mothered" evoke acrid and despondent emotions from the patient. This verse portrays how war has adversely affected patients who are now physically limited. Subsequently, the soldier reflects on his idealistic notions of warfare and what he believed it would offer him. Compared to the initial dreariness of the poem's tone, this section conveys more vibrancy.

Within this section, the poet employs a plethora of figurative language to illustrate the ex-soldier's misconceptions of reality. An exemplar of this is when the soldier recounts how a man was 'smiling' upon signing, despite being underage. Such an occurrence incites disgust towards the fact that the individual responsible for providing the soldier with the form was cognizant of his underage status. Equally repulsive, however, is their blatant disregard for their own physical wellbeing - as evinced by 'throwing' away their legs. The thematic essence of the poem is multifaceted. Initially, it

presents a relatively monochromatic depiction of life within the hospital.

'The poem begins with a ghastly grey tone but later becomes more vibrant as the veteran soldier recalls his memories of life, including football and girls. However, it ends with a return to the monochrome theme and a reflection on the current and future state of his life. Both poems effectively depict the experiences and emotions of soldiers during the war.'

Although I am unlikely to endure the same hardships as the soldiers of World War 1, both poems provide a vivid portrayal of their experiences.

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