Bob Dylan And The Vietnam War

As a very prestigious award, the Nobel Prize for Literature holds high expectations for their candidates. The candidacy of such a prize can only given “to those who… shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind” (Allén) and the winner must fit into the rule that “the person shall have produced… the most outstanding work” (Allén). Bob Dylan came from a very humble background, yet has managed to rise to the top with a “career that began in the early 1960s with songs that chronicled social issues like war and civil rights” (Biography.com). Bob Dylan received the Nobel Prize of Literature because his music peacefully protested against the violence of war with its lyrics that include poetic devices such as repetition, similes, paradox and

imagery.
Bob Dylan's song, “Masters of War” was published along with his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963.

This song can be analyzed as “a strong condemnation of the people responsible for the atrocities of war and for the deaths and the blood that it brings, with particular reference to the Vietnam War.” (Wordsinthebucket.com). Using very judgemental lexicon to refer to those in charge of the Vietnam War (1954-1975), it expresses aggression and indignation by the repeated use of the word “you” as a targeted word. “You that hide behind walls, You that hide behind desks” (Dylan) exhibits the absence of the “sense of forgiveness” (Wordsinthebucket.com). During this time of war, all people felt the sorrow and the horror that repeatedly showed itself as death. Families lost their children in war while the government or the higher ranking individuals watched only to know how many more men to send off as replacement. Most of those who returned came back with both physical and psychological scars which would follow them forever. In this world, war is not infrequent and so this song

continues relevant in today's society. Even in times of peace, this song remains a reminder of the injustices of war and the damage it does for a nation. Bob Dylan’s song “Masters of War” ignited the people by showing them that others profit from war by sending their friends and family members to fight and possibly die. Dylan writes, “You fasten all the triggers For the others to fire Then you set back and watch When the death count gets higher You hide in your mansion' As young people's blood Flows out of their bodies And is buried in the mud.” (Dylan), which instigated rebellion among the people. The individuals in power benefit from the successes of winning the war but they hide behind their riches while the young men they know die fighting for the triumph.
The Nobel Prize for Literature holds its fame as being elite and difficult to become honored with.

Bob Dylan used his musical fame to communicate with his audience the inequity of this world and accomplished this by fitting literary devices to convey his theme. In his song, “Masters of War”, he uses many literary terms one of which being repetition. Dylan repeats the word “you” as a way to single out those in power and intimidate those guilty, “Come you masters of war You that build all the guns You that build the death planes You that build all the bombs You that hide behind walls You that hide behind desks” (Dylan). By doing this he also establishes to the listeners who he blames and inaugurates the attitude towards the “you” as indignant, offended and shows the “you” as repugnant. He also repeats “I see” throughout the song. “A world war can be won You want me to believe But I see through your eyes And I see through your brain Like I see through the water That runs down my drain.” (Dylan), he uses this “I see” to confront those in power by saying that what they are doing to these soldiers and the people he can see as clear as “the water that runs down my drain” (Dylan). By saying this, he lets them know that he can see how they’re taking advantage of everything and now, because of this song, everyone else will too. Dylan also uses strong imagery to communicate his points. Dylan writes, “And I hope that you die And your death'll come soon I will follow your casket In the

pale afternoon And I'll watch while you're lowered Down to your deathbed And I'll stand over your grave 'Til I'm sure that you're dead.” (Dylan). Using this imagery of the death of not only the individuals responsible for the war and who are benefitting from the war, but the war itself. He wishes for their death and even describes the day that they die as being “In the pale afternoon”. He also explains the action of the casket lowering into the ground as he watches to make sure that the war, along with the individual dies. There is also the imagery of the death of the young men saying that those in power are protected in their offices “As young people's blood Flows out of their bodies And is buried in the mud.” (Dylan). As the audience hears this, their imaginations run wild and they think of their loved ones which activates emotion and anger towards those that Dylan blames.
Overall, Bob Dylan opened the minds of may with the use of this songs. With “Masters of War”, he showed his audience the abuse of power in the military during the Vietnam War and gave some the will to reject the war to instead fight for peace. The Nobel Prize for Literature cannot be rewarded to someone who writes a beautiful story, but awarded to someone who changed and opened minds, and freed the future of the same war. Bob Dylan has done this through his songs such as “Masters of War” applying peaceful protest through music using repetition and imagery to reach and impact the people.