Suffering in Dulce Et Decorum Est Essay

The poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est" is a war poem written to illustrate the suffering and harrowing experiences young men went through to fight for their country. From start to finish to poem uses strong word choice and imagery to express the circumstances faced by each man. It conveys an influential argument against the satisfaction of those who consider war to be a magnificent patriotic obligation and that fighting for your country is not Sweet and Right, it is the complete opposite.

The first line provides a metaphor showing how tired the men were, "old beggars under sacks", this describes the troops as being "like old beggars under sacks." This not only says that they are tired, but that they are so tired they have been brought down to the level of beggars who have not slept in a bed for weeks on end. The men were battle weary, this explains they are worn out and terrified of what lies ahead for them. Using graphic terms of "blood-shod conveys an image of the hell of war.

The opening of the poem suggests the pitiful state to which the soldiers have fallen. Instead of youthful, strapping fighters they are Bent double, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags. The use of imagery describes the men as prematurely old and damaged. The men want nothing more than to rest but cant as they still have miles to walk to reach their base. As they walk they are so exhausted they cannot hear the explosives whistling by them. War has wrecked these men, and they are described in the most unspectacular, humiliating manner. The resentment at this transformation is apparent for all to see.

In the second stanza the repetition of the word Gas! Gas! again shows how knocked these men were, as they were walking sleeping, first scream of the word Gas was the immediate, almost a lethargic reaction but that second one is a roar, a true warning for the men to put on their gas masks. As the gas was dropped, it portrayed an image that would alarm the mind. The troops were torn out of their nightmarish walk and surrounded by gas bombs, everyone was in "an ecstasy of fumbling" forced to run out into the mist, unaware of their fate. The experience of war is something no soldier can escape, In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me. The use of word choice like guttering", "choking", and "drowning" not only show how the man is in agony, but that he is in dreadful pain a with a lack of air and death in close proximity, anguish that no man should have to undergo and shows that this is not Sweet and Right for any human being.

In the final stanza the writer is explaining what he remembers and how he felt, he uses word choices like writhing and froth-corrupted which say precisely how the man is being tormented. Also, the fact that the gassed man was "flung" into the wagon reveals the urgency and occupation with fighting. The only thing they can do is toss him into a wagon. The language used in this section portrays the gas attack is strong, representing both the anguish of the victims of the gas attack as well as the effect on those haunted by what they have seen, watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face. The repetition of the word face makes it clear which element disturbs the writer mainly, the transformation in the face of the victim. This is not right for any human being to be but through or to see happening in front of your own eyes. The writer is clearly expressing his anger at what these men are going through, portraying that it is appalling and inhuman circumstances.

The poem has a message to convey that war is repulsive, cruel and terrifying and in no way is it Sweet and Right we are left with a truthful and disturbing image of war. Through the vivid words, gruesome portrayal, it is made clear that we do not want to see war. This poem leaves the reader feeling the pain and suffering that each man suffered due to war and how no-one should ever have to experience such torment and sorrow. The writer uses, vivid comparisons, and graphic images to have the reader feel disgusted at what war is capable of. This poem is extremely effective as an anti-war poem, making war seem extremely disgusting and horrendous.