Analytical_Essay_for_Belonging_-_James_Blunt__No_Bravery_

– ANALYTICAL ESSAY – “NO BRAVERY”, JAMES BLUNT By Jessica Lawrence Ones sense of belonging contributes to their sense of identity, their relationships and processes of acceptance and understanding. An intrinsic sense of belonging transcends all physical connections, with the notion of not belonging bringing fear and isolation. The song “No Bravery” written by James Blunt, whilst he was serving in the British Army in Kosovo, is a very powerful and dramatic song highlighting the devastation of war and the isolation of the people it affects. The song lyrics raise issues of not belonging, isolation and disconnection through the people affected by war, both the soldiers that are fighting and the families that are driven away. The line “he has been here” is used as a metaphor for war and the chaos and destruction it inflicts on the people involved. Blunts observation on the futility of war and the chaos brought about by human greed depict the disconnection of humans through brutality and atrocious acts like “Wives and daughters cut and raped”. Referring “he” as a pronoun and giving it some sense of personification adds depth and a sense of something claiming responsibility for what has been done. The ‘he’ adds a human trait to the war making it more volatile and disgraceful. The use of the word ‘yes’ in “yes, he has been here” enforces such brutality and allows the listener to understand the hatred behind such acts and how this can affect the lives and identities of those involved. It also creates a dramatic end to the song by highlighting and reinforcing that “he” has caused all the destruction and chaos. James Blunt was raised in an environment that preached that the freedoms of life are worth dying for. It contrast the soldiers of the war are taking this freedom away from the people through acts of violence and destruction. The people are seen as outcasts and are treated like they do not have the right to live. These inhumane acts cause the soldiers to be alienated from the rest of the human race through their disgraceful acts and unnecessary violence. “And I see no bravery, No bravery in your eyes anymore, only sadness”. Blunt takes away the soldiers bravery to illustrate that they no longer see themselves as the hero’s, they are now the outcasts left to deal with their own self-hatred and isolation. It also depicts how hopeless the people feel after losing everything, their identity, their family, their life. The ultimate form of isolation, when you feel completely alone. The use of imagery gives the listener a strong sense of the sadness and devastation that isolation can have on a person or family. “Children standing here, arms outstretched into the sky, tears drying on their face”. The use of children in the song appeals to the listeners emotions and enhances the agonizing truth about the brutality of war. “The smell of death is in the air” is a powerful piece of imagery that James Blunt’s song “No Bravery” reflects the isolation and destruction caused by war and the way it affects all of those involved. Through inhumane acts of brutality and devastation one can be separated from their family and their identity to be disunited and alienated in the ultimate form of isolation.