Irony In War Through His Speaker example essay topic

Rachael Rawlins Dr. Jean Sorenson English 1301. LTA September 30, 2002 Analytical Essay Mockery of War Stereotypes and Acceptability Hardy writes about the satire in the manner we treat people based on stereotypes in his works "The Man He Killed". The stereotype discriminated in this poem is that of an enemy- solely because of war opposition. The speaker is a man and apparently a soldier as well. The man is in a bar recollecting the occasion when once he killed a man. He gives a brief relapse of his thoughts and lets us assume his attitude towards the situation.

The poem is short but creates a vivid picture of the instance and a great understanding regardless to ones understanding of war. We realize that unlike the murderer he is, we'd like to portray him as a regular man of common prejudice. We realize that people base some of their actions on what we think is to be logical and with reason at the time, but then realize some actions are based on pure prejudice! When we understand his relapse of thought and reasoning, the man and the reader come to a conclusion that his actions really were unnecessary.

He states, "Had he and I but met / By some old ancient Inn, / We should have sat us down to wet / Right many a napper kin!" (673). This first stanza introduces his reasoning that, indeed, what he did was because of, merely, a prejudice. He meant that, had he not known the man in opposition was from the other war side; he would have sat down and cared him to a drink. This also suggests he would like to get to know him and they have common attributes and could be very similar people in contrast. We don't realize their setting until later reading. This opening of Hardy's poem sets a mood that is filled with resent but yet doesn't create an understanding of why.

It creates curiosity and creates interest to progression in reading where we learn the scrutiny of resentfulness. The second stanza opens up a knowledge of where the two men are and we now have grasp on the relation between the two men. The speaker had been on the battlefield, as his foe on his, for the same reason as he, and recognized his uniform, like his own. They both now knew now that they were men of war in opposing battles and were both at the same rank. With this knowledge, they both fired at each other after staring face to face. The speaker "killed him in his place" (674).

He obviously feels guilty because he gives an explanation of his actions. Had he felt he had acted in civil obedience, a cause wouldn't have to be justified. "I shot him dead because- / Because he was my foe. / Just so: my foe of course he was; / That's clear enough; although". (674) He killed him only because he was his enemy and felt validation could become from that. His cause was brief but made a bold statement; prejudices arise in war form both sides and action will be taken against one if there is no form of defense.

He uses the excuse of killing him only because he was his enemy and was his own self-defense mechanism. Perhaps, one isn't to blame but the government itself is at fault. The government put the people in the situation and the training they partake, making the soldiers feel it is their job, but yet they don't have a realization of who is to blame but themselves. War, Hardy makes clear, makes one inhumane to a point of acceptability. An attitude comes across of I killed him just because. This is a stereotype expressed through his writings in the way we perceive things and the acceptability of them.

What has been accepted for so long in times before, are overlooked and thought to be natural instances in life and really have no significant importance on the human thought process and we become numb to its affects. In the stanzas to follow, the speaker realizes how close the two were and could have been in opposition to the way things are stereotyped to a group or action. He makes a contrast of how the two had been put into instances where they were to make a drastic change in their lives in order to proceed with their lives. They were both of a lower class and made obvious in a translation that they had to sell their possessions and enlist. Hardy is unsatisfied in how the outcome arose and resulted, as well as the speaker, who Hardy uses to express his own feelings so truly.

We know this by his contrasts of similarities and the last, but satisfying, stanza. "Yes; quaint and curious war is! / You shoot a fellow down / You'd treat if met where any bar is, / Or help to half-a-crown". (674) Hardy is noting the irony in war through his speaker in this poem. He feels that it is ridiculous to shoot a man who, on any other occasion or place, you would treat to a drink or be of assistance to twenty or thirty dollars.

This last stanza does its job of leaving the reader with a more satisfied outlook on the speaker than the opening stanzas did. We know the man finds his work curious and so, maybe, we can't blame him so much as a murderer. However, the word choice of "quaint" is rather disturbing in one way or another. Why Hardy chooses the word used more often in a positive manner, to almost compliment something in another relation, is used to make a mockery of such an unjust attitude placed on war. The war has beauty?

He is undoubtedly recognizing the irony in such a statement, of just the opposite; no beauty. It is apparent that the author would like recognition in the irony of war and its prejudices. Overall, there is a good use of imagery without the use of words that appeal to the senses so much, as one would expect them to in such a vivid poem. Elaboration on certain rhyme and repetition were put to good use for emphasis and embellishment. A clear point made: there is irony in war stereotypes and indeed a prejudice as well.

Hardy probably wants this irony of war to be recognized in everyday life. Judgment and action is taken before understanding, all the too often of times. Hardy, Thomas "The Man He Killed" 1902 pg. 673-674 Literature Sixth Edition- An Introduction to Reading and Writing Edgar V. Roberts / Henry E. Jacobs: Prentice Hall 2001.