One of the fundamental pillars in decision-making that all young adults have to become familiar with while maturing to adulthood is that for every action there is an associated reaction that follows. Paru Amma, the young woman featured in the short story “The Subordinate” by K. Saraswathi Amma, allows her desperation for affection and what she believes is real love to influence her when she chose to partake in a short-lived love affair with a much older upper-class man. While the young man in Wilfred Owen’s poem, “Disabled”, is so blinded by his own self-image and fooled by the World War I propaganda that he cannot see the real dangers and consequences of being at war. In both the short story, “The Subordinate”, and the poem, “Disabled,” both …show more content…
They rather paint a picture of heroes, honor, and glory. The propaganda that the media spreads further fuels this misconception. The young man was not aware of the real dangers of war prior to his decision of enlisting. He figured if he enjoyed “…a blood-smear down his leg, / after the matches…” then fighting in a war would be no different (Owen 21-22). More importantly, he did not sign up to defend a real injustice to his homeland, but rather just because “…he’d drunk a peg,”, “[s]omeone had said he’d look a god in kilts,” and to “…please his Meg;” (Owen 23, 25-26). He was making this huge decision in his life based on impressing a young woman while intoxicated and because he thought he would look good in the uniform, which are three crucial indicators he was still rather young and arrogant to really appreciate the actual cruelty and dangers of war. It is typical for a young adult to believe that nothing bad could ever happen to them. Furthermore, even when he went to enlist, the adults did not verify his age, but rather “[s]smiling they wrote his lie ; nineteen years” (Owen 29). Coincidently, this is a similar situation to that of Paru Amma where the more experienced adults did not look out or have his best interests at heart, and he did not stop to question their
“Most of our mistakes, the big ones at least, are the result of allowing emotion to overrule logic. We knew the right choice but didn't obey.” - Unknown speaker. This quote is an overview of what is to come soon on in this essay, as we knew what the right decision was, but we appealed to emotion and overruled our logic. During the novels Dawn by Elie Wiesel, Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang, and The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu, we will see these themes take action and these characters react in a time of change and confusion. The novel Dawn takes place after World War II and tells the story of the Israeli resistance fighters against the English rule. Red Scarf Girl tells the story of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and everything that
These views were realistic as such men actually participated in the war itself. Siegfried Sassoon sums up what he feels war is all about. "War is an undignified sacrifice of soldiers due to political errors and insincerity. " Such views are so different to pre 1900 poets nut in my opinion these grim realistic accounts reveal what everybody should know. No one should be tricked into thinking that "It is a lovely and honourable thing; to die for one's country."
There are only two types of people in a time of war and crisis, those who survive and those who die. Elie Wiesel’s novel, Night, shows how Elie, himself, faces difficult problems and struggles to survive World War II. Wilfred Owen’s poem, “Dulce et Decorum Est”, tells a story about a young soldier thinking of himself before others during World War I. The poem “Mary Hamilton” shows how a mother killed her child
At the beginning of the War, men felt that being part of the troops that were on the frontline was an honorable thing to do. Men who joined the army were seen as patriotic and loyal to their countries. In this perspective, any man who had the strength to go out to fight would voluntarily join the force without any resistance. The feeling was that of enthusiasm as many men wanted to serve their countries. In Britain for example, joining the army was seen as a noble cause and many men would volunteer to leave their families and join the frontline. In addition to this, it was seen as betrayal for fellow countrymen to be on the frontline while one was left at home. Such a person would not earn the respect of the society as he was seen as a traitor who did not love nor respect their country. In this perspective, the thoughts and experiences of men ...
Visualize a future where all books are forbidden, banned and censored in an effort to keep the human race from thinking for themselves. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 forces us to envision a futuristic lifestyle where the government forbids its people from reading or taking part on individual or independent thinking. A world where feelings are shunned, family engagement is non-existent, war is common and ignorance is truly
All of Sun Tzu’s strategies in The Art of War have been adopted by American businesses in order for them to be successful. Chapter one of The Art of War is “Laying Plans” which has five fundamental factors: the moral law, heaven, earth, the commander, and method and discipline. In business the moral law means one’s mission or goal. Heaven compares to outside forces such as the market and dependencies. Earth would be the scene of action such as people, place, product, and process included in production. Commander is leadership like a sponsor or a bachelor of arts. Method and discipline are the guiding principles similar to business ethics, laws, and policies. Sun Tzu said, “These five heads should be familiar to every general; he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail” (Tzu 2). Basically, what this means and how businesses relate to it is that before one does anything one evaluates all business options.
More than two thousand years ago, a Chinese strategist known as Sun Tzu wrote one of the enduring classics of military theory. Most likely written during a period of Chinese history referred to as the ‘Warring States’ period, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War has continued to be studied by military strategists for millennia. Even today, The Art of War is required reading for Naval Officer Candidates. At nearly the same time in the fourth century B.C., the Greek city-states were facing invasion from the mighty Persian army. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks eventually triumphed by defeating their enemies at Plataea, but not before fighting one of history’s greatest military stands at Thermopylae. By using Sun Tzu’s classic text to analyze the battles of Thermopylae and Plataea, it is possible to gain a better understanding not only of the battles themselves, but also of the reasons why The Art of War has remained such an influential and respected text over the centuries.
The people that boasted about the war even after realizing it was going to be a slaughter house are criminals. Using phrases like “Glorious,” “Fight for the Fatherland,” and “It is your duty,” promoted young men to enlist, even after the death toll was high. An example of these types of people in the movie is when Paul goes back to his homeland during leave. Paul is disturbed by his visit to the beer garden and old classroom, here he realizes that his town’s older men, in their enthusiasm for war, have no idea what is actually happening on the front. This scene shows how it is always the young generation that has to enlist and fight in war, while the older more privileged men discuss war strategy over some alcohol. War has been disorientated ever since the supposedly “leaders” left the front line to lead from the rear, where they were safe from any chance of being killed. To send a sixteen year old to their death while claiming it is for the “Good of the Fatherland” is the supreme way to show how much of a coward you truly are. Most supporters of the war live their lives in the most ignorant state of self-righteousness. An example of some of these types are the school teacher, the father, and the Kaiser
It is ingrained in soldier’s minds that to die for ones country is a great and honourable sacrifice. However, in the poem Dulce et Decorum Est the speaker uses powerful words and images to portray that patriotic propaganda is an “old lie” (Owen 27). In the first stanza, the speaker explains the effects that war has on young soldiers: “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks/ Knock- Kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge” (Owen 1-2). Propaganda portrays soldiers as being young heroes, those who are strong, healthy and vigorous. However, based on the evidence expressed in the previous quotation soldiers are not all what propaganda
Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first place” (O’Brien 21). The soldiers did not go to war for glory or honor, but simply to avoid the “blush of dishonor” (21). In fact, O’Brien states “It was not courage, exactly; the object was not valor.
World War One had an inevitable effect on the lives of many young and naive individuals, including Wilfred Owen, who, like many others, joined the military effort with the belief that he would find honour, wealth and adventure. The optimism which Owen initially had toward the conflict is emphasised in the excerpt, in which he is described as “a young poet…with a romantic view of war common among the young” (narrator), a view which rapidly changed upon reaching the front. Owen presents responders with an overwhelming exploration of human cruelty on other individuals through acts of war and the clash of individual’s opposed feelings influenced by the experiences of human cruelty. This is presented through the horrific nature of war which the
Every day we are surrounded by stories of war. In fact, we have become so accustomed to it, that we are now entertained by it. Video games, movies, and books filled with heroes who once dominated the battlefields. However it is constantly stated, “no good comes from war.” Even famous songs state “war... what is it good for… absolutely nothing.” But what if war was actually necessary? Throughout history, we see examples of the good things wars have brought. War has freed slaves, modernized medicine, brought down evil empires, and even brought countries together
This story brings back some harsh truths about warfare, and explains why so many naïve young men joined up, only to suffer deaths well before their time.
War is a patriotic act where one seeks the determination to lead their country. It can be viewed noble, cruel, inhumane and can make an individual a hero or a criminal. It effects everyone in a society, hoping their loved one is safe whether fighting in the trenches or waiting at home. It has led to severe individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. Two poems in war literature “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen and “Facing it” by Yusef Komunyakaa, the authors’ different perspectives will be presented. Owen portrays war as a horror battlefield not to be experienced and the glorious feeling to fight for one’s country. Komunyakaa on the other hand shows an African American that serves in Vietnam War and visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The poets’ choice of diction, setting of battlefield and various uses of poetic devices create a desired effect.
‘Poetry can challenge the reader to think about the world in new ways.’ It provokes the readers to consider events, issues and people with revised understanding and perspectives. The poems Dulce Et Decorum Est (Wilfred Owen, 1917) and Suicide in the Trenches (Siegfried Sassoon, 1917), were composed during World War One and represented the poets’ point of views in regards to the glorification of war and encouraged readers to challenge their perspectives and reflect upon the real consequences behind the fabrications of the glory and pride of fighting for one’s nation.