Dulce Et Decorum Est

In the early 20th century when countless wars occurred, men were encouraged to fight for their country. That time, “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” was a prominent term which sparked multitudes of men to participate in wars. Translated into English, the saying means “it is sweet and glorious to die for one’s country;” however, in Wilfred Owen’s poem, the speaker emphatically contradicts this idea. Motivated to prove his point of view, he shares his and his colony’s physical, mental and emotional tribulation during the war. Dulce et Decorum Est was written in 1917—the time when World War I took place. This led scholars to believe the poem was written to depict the horrific events that occurred during the war. Moreover, since historical records show Owen was one of the men who enlisted in World War I, they also suspect the events are closely tied to his personal experiences. Upon examining the poem, I came across the word ‘we’ in lines 2 and 3. In addition, I saw

“Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, / As under a green sea, I saw him drowning” (13-14). In these lines, the speaker illustrates his comrade’s intoxication with lethal chlorine gas. “In all my dreams before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning” (15-16). Within these lines, the speaker witnessed the traumatizing sight of his dying comrade. He describes the tears streaming down the unfortunate man’s face. In the subsequent lines, the speaker further depicts his comrade’s gruesome death. “If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace / And watch the white eyes writhing in his face / His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin” (17-20). Along these lines, the speaker reveals the horrid sight of his comrade’s death incessantly haunts him in his dreams. The traumatizing sight of his comrade’s gruesome death caused the speaker’s mental