Disabled

1095 Words3 Pages

Disabled by Wilfred Owen is a poem that reveals the life of veterans after war and how they struggle to adjust their new lifestyle. The poet is trying to suggest that the public betrayed the men who fought on their behalf by contrasting the man and the public before and after the war. War was said to be honorable and noble and soldiers were portrayed as masculine and courageous figures by the public. The character in the poem “thought he’d better join” which emphasizes his naivety and it can show how war was well promoted and was a popular topic with young men. However the next short sentence, “He wonders why…” creates a juxtaposition between strong will and intense regret. Regretful feelings, which are created by the ellipses, intensify the atmosphere of regret and remorse. This creates contrast between “though he’d better join” which indirectly conveys a sense of deceit. Another pair of quotation that contrasts the difference of his state of mind is “younger than his youth” and “Now he is old”. The repetition of the idea of youth suggest not only his young age before the war but also his naivety and innocence. This creates contrast with the adjective “old”. “Old” refers to both his physicality and mentality: his aging appearance and his tired and exhausted state of mind. He is metaphorically compared to an old person to illustrate the ferocity of war and how it took away his liveliness. The statement “One time he liked a bloodsmear down his leg” refers to his passion for football matches and how he use to view wounds as an honorable mark. This contrasts with the extended metaphor of color and how war “poured it down shell-holes till the veins ran dry”. The imagery of blood, which is connoted by the words “pour” and “veins”,... ... middle of paper ... ...ntrasts with “institutes” which again symbolizes the loss of admiration and people’s indifferent attitude. Owen indirectly criticizes the society through contrasting people’s attitude before and after war. This poem is not written in a chronological order; it jumps between past and present. By moving between past and present, it creates a juxtaposition of before and after the war. This makes the reader sympathize with the soldier through the drastic contrast in terms of appearance, mental state and treatment. Owen uses this one disabled soldier to symbolize the entire nation—they were young, glorious and courageous but were not welcomed back after they fought in fatal battles. They struggled to adjust their lifestyles because it changes completely and the contrast between before and after tortured them and this suffering follows them for the rest of their life.

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