Est Dulce et Decorum Est is a poem by Wilfred Owen, written during World War I and published posthumously in 1920. The title of the poem comes from Latin, translating to "It is sweet and fitting"; however, this phrase carries a different meaning within the context of the poem. In his work, Owen captures the harsh reality of war with vivid imagery as he recounts an experience on the battlefield. His words describe both the physical and emotional exhaustion felt by soldiers due to their conditions, depicting gruesome details such as gas-filled lungs or men screaming for mercy under fire. Ultimately, it serves as an anti-war statement that questions why anyone would want to go through such horrors willingly when they could choose otherwise.
The tone of Dulce et Decorum Est is one of despair and hopelessness; while some lines are angry at those who send young men off to fight without regard for their safety (e.g., "Bent double like old beggars under sacks"), others express sorrow over what has been lost ("In all my dreams before my helpless sight/ He plunges at me guttering, choking, sighing"). Throughout the course of his narrative, Owen uses poetic devices such as personification ("gas shells dropping softly behind") and metaphors ("drunk with fatigue") in order to further emphasize how desperate these soldiers have become after years spent fighting in vain against overwhelming odds. By doing so, he not only conveys his own emotions but also makes readers feel empathy towards those living through similar experiences themselves, forcing them out of any sense of complacency about conflict and into realizing its true cost on human life, whether you are directly involved or not.
As part of literature studies across many countries since its publication almost 100 years ago, Dulce et Decorum Est remains one of Wilfred Owen's most acclaimed works today, having won numerous awards, including being named Poem of the Year four times consecutively between 2012 and 2015, according to BBC Radio 4's listener poll results. It has stood testament throughout history, reminding people everywhere just how powerful literature can be when used correctly: to move us beyond our current understanding into realizing truths we never thought possible until faced head-on ourselves firsthand.