Analysis Of The Sniper By Liam O Flaherty

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The beginning of an inevitable nightmare begins as ammunition and warriors pepper the horizon

Their dark silhouettes emerging and growing closer by the minute as they march with their backs against the sun

Enemies and allies who may or may not be unknown to each other

Foes and brothers, driven apart by their beliefs

Invigorated by hatred yet compelled by love

Side by side no more

As the blinding sun sun sets a wave of darkness falls over the plains

Reality sinks in as the first shots ring clear through the air, penetrating the obscurity

Enmity and animosity stenches the air

While flaming denotation blinds thy eye till one can see no more

The ever sounding battle shots suddenly blend into one chaotic mess as the world explodes

Fighters, each whom possesses a glint of steel fire in their eyes that never dies

The world explodes into a blur of colour as the damage is done

Both sides retreat as a solemn uneasy silence rolls over the battlefield

Lone soldiers lay sprawling on the ground

splashed with the colours of war

Their limp bodies fighting to survive as the life drains out of them

Those who have been killed would never know who they killed and whom killed them …show more content…

This whole overall poem represents the cruelty of war and how in war, identity doesn’t matter. Humans are treated as mere objects, ruthless killing machines. Soldiers are not expected and can’t show mercy or they will be killed. This theme is evident in the last sentence where I state, “Those who have been killed would never know who they killed and whom killed them. But it does it matter? It’s war after all” The harsh truth is clear, it doesn't matter whether 2 people are complete strangers or in our case, brothers who share the same blood. Nothing can be done about it. This is also implied when Liam O’Flaherty omitted the character's name because it is simply insignificant in the story he is

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