Dulce Et Decorum
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Wilfred Owens “Dulce et Decorum Est” is an antiwar poem which is based on a battle during war. Through his use of imagery and metaphors, he clearly states his theme, that war is terrible and horrific. The poem also portrays Owen’s dislike towards war through his own experience and the way he writes throughout the poem itself. Furthermore, the utilization of the extremely graphic imagery adds even more to his argument, thus the poem conveys a strong meaning and persuasive argument. The irony in the poem is that it is not sweet and fitting to die for one’s country when you have actually experienced war. It is described how psychologically and physically exhausting WWI was for the soldiers that had to endure such a cruel ordeal and how it wasn’t patriotic and honourable to die for ones country; “Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori” which means “It is sweet and right to die for your country.”
The use of similes is used to reveal the reality of war. In the first line, “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,” may show that the troops are so exhausted that they can be compared to old beggars; Also this can be partly due to the fact that they have a heavy load on their backs. “Knocked-kneed” is another use of simile. This also may have to do with the utter fatigue of the soldiers and the weight that they must have been carrying. “Coughing like hags” may interpret what the soldiers would look like in this physical state; like hags. “Trudging” also associates to soldiers to their apparent tiredness, and the fact that “the men marched asleep”. In addition, “The haunting flares” may contribute to the state of the soldiers; the flares would daze their eyes, thus making it harder for them to get around. Further, the way that the soldiers were fumbling around would be because they had no boots to wear; often, in the conditions of war, would often cause this occurring. There is the quote of “gas shells dropping softly behind”. Usually, the noise of gas shells dropping is quite a loud noise, but compared to artillery noises the soldiers must have been accustomed to, gas shells dropping may sound quieter or perhaps the hearing of the men is now so badly impaired, the gas shells dropping would appear to be a softer noise. Another metaphor is: “An ecstasy of fumbling”, of the second stanza. This metaphor is significant as it describes the quick manner in which the soldiers will have been trying to put their masks on. They would have been doing this rapidly but due to their physical condition their minds may have wanted them to go faster than their body would have been allowing them; This is why there is said to be a: “Fumbling”. Although, The term: “Ecstasy” would normally suggest a time of extreme emotion, normally joy. However in this situation, it is used as a term of irony as this is a completely bewildering time for the men (another extreme emotion.) Yet another simile is “His hanging face, like a devils sick of sin”. This may suggest that his face is probably covered with blood which can be a colour symbolizing the devil.
The poem also explores the mental effects that war can bring upon soldiers. A strong metaphor is that of the comparison of painful experiences of the troops to “vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues.” This metaphor emphasizes that the troops will never forget these horrific experiences, and that the memories of war is with them for life. Owen has used metaphorical language very effectively and as a result, the reader gets drawn into the poem. The fourth stanza is the shortest, consisting only of two lines. However four words in the stanza produce a very vivid image. Owen uses this, a memory of himself, watching a man, his friend, chocking to death on the gas that has just been thrown at them. The quote “Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light as under a green sea ” signifies the gas mask, and how difficult it is to see through the lenses, which probably were dirty due to the amount of times it was used. Furthermore, the words “he plunges at me” are some, used to describe the event