Dulce_Et_Decorum_Est

Question- how does the writer portray the truth on war/its horrors and persuade the readers to think that dying for the country is not glorious' ‘Dulce et decorum Est’ is a poem written by Wilfred Owen describing his experiences of World War One. The poem is titled ‘Dulce et decorum est’ means how sweet and fitting it is to die for one’s country though the poem talks about something very opposite thus mocking the statement and making it a sarcastic comment focused on those who encourage war and proclaim it as being glorious. ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ reveals the truth behind war, the grief and suffering it causes.The author with the use of graphic imagery and diction tries to convey the horrors of war Owen’s choice of diction is used to great effect. When he uses a simile in the first line “like old beggars under sacks”. Soldiers are supposed to be fit men and a comparison with old beggars indicates that they have been brought down to such a level that they are now equal of hunched, tired, unfed, homeless and old people. Even their uniforms have lost their militaristic crispness, as Owen describes them as "sacks." This picture is a definite contrast to the idealized marching formations of troops shown in the war poster where men in crisp uniforms walked in a merry mood. Owen again shows the tiredness of the soldiers in the last line of that stanza when he say” Of gas shells dropping softly behind” which is very contrasting from how actual gas shells dropped. They make a loud hissing noise and can be heard from far. Thus Owen shows that the soldiers senses had dulled. Only a completely exhausted soldier with no strength could be in this state of mind to not have heard the gas shells in a battle field where the soldiers need to be alert of everything going around them. When Owen mentions the “haunting flares” he seems to be telling the readers that the soldiers could see their own deaths and that as if they knew their was near. This is a very horrifying experience and would mark these men for life if they were to get out of this god forsaken place. Another rather unusual choice if diction is in the next line itself “coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge”. The simile coughing like hags suggests that these young and healthy men have seen too much for their age and have a permanent coughing fit as old people do. The fact that Owen compares them to hags who are old ugly women suggests that the war has made youthful and healthy into good for nothing women who have a permanent coughing fit due to old age and illness. Owen calls the ground as sludge suggesting that the mud has started rotting with the blood in the trenches and is like walking in garbage.. "But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;" gives the feeling that these men have become dehumanized and are reduced to an animal-like state. The use of the term "shod" evokes a connection to horses as opposed to men. The picture created by Owen is contrasting and surprising and that of an exhausted animal and no longer that of an ordinary human. Thus arousing the question as to how could this be glorious. A side theme is highlighted in the first stanza: as to how are young and robust men with bright futures reduced to old ragged men benefit the nation The graphic and vivid imagery used by Owen in the poem, gives the reader a feeling of horror and makes them question as to how humans could do such atrocities. In lines 9-14 there is a change of pace. First the repetition of “gas” and then the oxymoron,” ecstasy of fumbling", seems a odd choice of diction, but later turns out to be perfect, as Owen uses it to describe the controlled panic instantly awakened with keen awareness- of youthful men with just seconds to find a gas mask i.e. save their lives from one of the most horrible deaths of that time. Owen uses a metaphor when he says“As under a green sea I saw him drowning”. This is an extended metaphor which is used to a great extent because it enhances the reader’s understanding of the feeling of being trapped by poisonous gas. The man in the poem, literally, cannot breathe. This man dies gruesomely after he inhales the gas, ironically showing how helpless and powerless a human was against a man made weapon. In the next stanza Owen uses a metaphor “guttering, choking, drowning”. This is a very gruesome image for life flickering out. These graphic images are very disturbing but play a very effective role in the persuasion of readers to think that dying for one’s country is anything than glorious. Owen uses one of the most descriptive, gruesome and horrifying imagery in the last stanza. When he uses phrases like “white eyes writhing in his face,”, “at every jolt the blood” , “come gargling from the froth corrupted lungs/ obscene as cancer bitter as cud”. Phrases like these can scare the hardest of men. This happened to some untrained soldiers in their youth. The graphic images displayed are profoundly affecting and can never be forgotten. Owen’s use of excellent imagery can sway many readers into believing that wars are the worst things that can happen and how dreadful a death a human could face. Owen shows how man has created weapons that leaves them helpless and renders them to one of the worst deaths possible. The helplessness is magnified when the gassed person is flung onto a wagon. Everyone can only watch that man as he is tortured to his death. Owen proves that how can people even go posting war posters and hide the reality, the bare truth from their own people. Thus destroying the argument that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. Owen instead starts a new argument when he says” on innocent tongues” which is saying that how could the world let people who had nothing to do with this war, be asked to die for it(which in Owen’s point of view is dying for nothing as he was a soldier in war as well). While those who started war could live comfortably in their offices. By the end questions- as to how death like this can be sweet and how distant it is one the truths of war- start arising in the reader’s mind. Owen’s continuous iambic pentameter and the rhyming pattern ABAB shows his cleverness. The iambic pentameter is broken in the second stanza when he writes “Gas! Gas! Quick boys – an ecstasy of fumbling”. This is probably to symbolize the start of the narration of a new incident. And from the last two stanzas he starts speaking in the present instead of the past. To make it more personalized and persuade the readers further Owen starts talking to his readers in first person. When he says “if you” and “my friend”. This is actually a sarcastic comment to his” friend” Jesse Pope who is a war poem writer. Owen ridicules Jesse Pope with his strong central argument and also makes the readers sympathize with Owen and how much he has experienced in his life. Owen ties the poem when he says in the last two lines “the Old lie: Dulce et Decorum est pro patria mori”. When Owen has finished his sentence, we understand that there is nothing "sweet and fitting" to die for ones country. Owen thus creates a juxtapose. The title is satirical and completely opposes what is being said in the poem. Leaving the reader with the feeling of disgust and repulsion. This poem is exceptionally effective as an anti-war poem, making war seem absolutely horrid and revolting, which is just what Owen wanted to do. Dulce et decorum est is one of those poems which can change a man’s take on world war and leave him gasping and shocked. This poem shows the harshness of war and absolutely condemns the sayings that it is glorious to die for one’s country. Owen’s graphic/ vivid imagery and diction completely ousts all positive words and feelings on war.