Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" vividly exposes the harsh reality of war, dismantling glorified notions. Through poignant imagery and personification, he challenges the false glorification of war and its sacrifices.
Wilfred Owen, in "Dulce et Decorum Est," emphasizes the harsh realities and horrors of war, debunking the glorified image of war often portrayed by propagandists. The poem vividly describes the physical and emotional toll on soldiers, depicting them as "bent double, like old beggars under sacks" and "knock-kneed, coughing like hags." These stark images illustrate the dehumanizing effects of war, highlighting the physical exhaustion, injuries, and trauma endured by the soldiers.
The personification in lines 3 and 4 adds depth to the portrayal of the soldiers' suffering. The soldiers are described as "coughing like hags," attributing human characteristics to their coughs. This personification not only emphasizes the soldiers' physical distress but also conveys a sense of haunting and eerie atmosphere, suggesting that the impact of war transcends the physical and permeates the emotional and psychological well-being of the soldiers.
The poem's overall message is driven home in the concluding lines, where Owen rejects the notion that it is "sweet and proper" (Dulce et Decorum Est) to die for one's country. Instead, he denounces it as "the old Lie," exposing the deceptive and false nature of the glorification of war. Owen, who himself experienced the brutality of World War I, seeks to convey the truth about the grim and devastating consequences of warfare, urging readers to reject the romanticized view of war and confront the harsh realities faced by those who serve. In essence, Owen emphasizes the need for a more truthful and honest portrayal of war, challenging the propagandist narratives that romanticize the sacrifice of soldiers.
The question probable may be;
Line 3: " Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. " Line 4: "Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod . "Explain what Wilfred Owen is trying to emphasis. Explain the personification in line 3 and 4.