Tim O’Brien’s book “The Things They Carried” epitomizes the degradation of morals that war produces. This interpretation is personified in the characters who gradually blur the line dividing right and wrong as the motives for war itself become unclear. The morality of soldiers and the purpose of war are tied also to the truth the soldiers must tell themselves in order to participate in the gruesome and random killing which is falsely justified by the U.S government. The lack of purpose in the Vietnam War permanently altered the soldier’s perspective of how to react to situations and in most cases they turned to violence to express their frustration. The men’s mission was plainly described by O’Brien, stating “If you weren’t humping, you were waiting…It was boredom with a twist, the kind of boredom that causes stomach disorders.” (O’Brien, 34).
Although upfront the film may seem like it is purely for entertainment, if one were to take a closer look it really exhibits the cruelty of war and not just of the Trojan war but of all wars. Petersen's expresses his distaste for war through the depiction of immoral and corrupt leaders' desire for power at any cost, the anguish of men forced to fight in order to protect their homes or their honor and the damaging influence of a society on its young men to procure eminence by completing impossible feats in battle. The first way Petersen divulges his animosity towards war is when he shows Agamemnon's insatiable yearning for power and his willingness to do anything at all to obtain it no matter what the cost may be. Although most people would avoid a violent war, a monstrous leader like Agamemnon would believe it to be worthwhile in order to have more power. Agamemnon says to Menelaus, “Peace is for the women and the weak.
The stanzas are effective in unveiling the reality of war because it “appalls through its horrifying physicality and its presentation of suffering that is endless” (Sillars 219). He described his fellow soldier’s painful death as “obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud, of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues-“(23-24) he is describing the cruel reality of war. Owen unveils the lie when she says that others “would not tell with such high zest” (25) to “children ardent for some desperate glory” (26) the lie that it is honorable to die for one’s country if they had
Goo... ... middle of paper ... ...l others arise, as if by deduction. But by the linkage does suggest a way of looking at (or looking for) key moral norms” (Goodman, 2010). Goodman states genocide, famine and germ warfare, and I agree that murder is wrong because it destroys a human life. Killing someone for the sake of killing is morally wrong and destructive. Goodman talks about warfare not always being wrong.
To go to war is to engage in a fight with another Nation. Many view war as being an appropriate action that can only solve problems. Others believe that war is a violent action that leads to nothing but casualties. In the article, “Regarding the Torture of Others” Susan Sontag writes about the torture soldiers are inflicting on prisoners. Some torture was done so brutally that the some of the soldiers deem that acts as correct and in the process seem to try to dehumanize the victims.
A rather contradicting definition from the dictionary when one examines war's true meaning and the effect it has on mankind. Wars do not put an end to something considered injurious, war starts them. War stems from human greed and ignorance and is often used as a tool by men to seek fame and glory. People remember the glory of Alexander the Great, Hannibal, and Napoleon but forget the number of deaths caused by these so-called heroes. War is about death and the destruction of the human character and spirit.
As he runs across the prison yard, the guards shoot at him. Tom dies in cold blood unable to claim his justice. Harper Lee expresses the unfairness and cruelty faced by Tom Robinson through these events. Harper Lee realises the brutality of a white community towards black individuals before the establishment of equal rights, and she does this through the story of Tom Robinson.
The justification of murdering other humans is often overlooked throughout war. When looking at society as a whole, one can see the willingness for humans to downgrade themselves to the savage, bloodthirsty beings they have the potential of being is detrimental toward the truth of present and future actions. This damaging truth is harmful toward the future because it promotes the idea that not caring is actually okay and even expected. People seem to just simply shrug it off when they hear about a soldier’s death, a criminal taking his own life, or innocent people dying in a car crash, simply because they just don’t “know” those people. The constant overlook of unneeded death creates an atmosphere of acceptance where “those t... ... middle of paper ... ...ny of them consisted in everyday life—the true examples are ones that people have personally experienced.
It’s a catastrophic event that takes away hope and happiness from those who are involved and who are innocence. War will put you in a state of denial and will leave you isolated; people will wish that it never took place in the first place. There are still wars ongoing nowadays, even though we are aware of the horrific effects of war. This really sparks a question if the leaders the nations in the world are taking take people through the correct path for a better future or not. Ty Kerr
Furthermore, the lack of logic in the matter makes him confused about going to war. That’s why, he does not understand why he was sent to fight a war for which causes and effects were uncertain. The author continues by saying, “I was too good for... ... middle of paper ... ...hermore, going to war was an act of cowardice. He had to put aside his morals and principles and fight a war he did not believe in. Overall, the author showed us the courageous and coward s acts of O’Brien the character.