Wilfred Owen’s poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” describes the horrors experienced during World War I through soldiers’ eyes. Owen uses brutal imagery to show how soldiers came to be unaware of the horrors. This was done in protest at England’s glorifying of war. All imagery used by Owen is negatively connotated and, as such, it has impacted both the soldier and the reader. Wilfred Ow’s poem “Dulce et Decorum Est”, demonstrates that war was not as honorable as England had made it out. It is a terrible reality that everyone should face.
Although most people associate war with something negative, some people view it positively. In many cultures, fighting for your country is a sign of pride and honor. Owen’s poem has the title “Dulce et Decorum Est”, which is a Latin translation of “Dulce et decorum Est pro patriamori”. This phrase means “It would be sweet and appropriate to die for my country”. The poem is sarcastic, and Owen is actually arguing against it. He calls it “the Old Lie” He uses imagery that supports his argument. Owen uses graphic imagery throughout “Dulce et Decorum Est” to show the audience the surroundings of the soldiers. Owen’s intention was for the readers to be shocked and dismayed. Owen describes the gas-sprayed soldier as “hanging from the frothy lungs,” using harsh imagery to describe the war and the activities of the soldiers. He makes sure his readers are aware, and even more so that they are angry and bitter. Owen encourages readers to be angry at the injustices being done to these young, innocent men.
Owen uses similes in order to bring out the realness of war. English society was clearly divided by classes at that time, with the upper classes being seen as more superior than the lower classes. Soldiers were considered heroes of the country and were therefore grouped with the top classes. They were treated “like old beggars living under sacks” (1). He also compares them with “hags”, (2) which is a reference to both lower-class and evil. Owen replaces war’s appeal with disliking the lower classes by showing the soldiers this way, instead of glorifying them as they are viewed in society.
Owen’s poem contains some of the most absurd descriptions one can imagine for any situation. The poem is almost absurd in that some of the images seem impossible to understand. However, Owen seems to have intended this effect. The way Owen describes the life of soldiers is so terrible that most readers cannot understand it. Owen presents the unsettling image of rotting flesh and dying with phrases like “obscene cancer” or “vile, incurable skin sores on innocent lips”. Most people don’t get this picture at first. However, society is accustomed to filtering out images that are so harsh. Owen uses this horrific imagery to make the point that Owen’s description of the horrors faced by soldiers is absurd. His powerful imagery only makes Owen’s message stronger.
Owen also uses imagery in order to communicate his message. This is done by removing the senses of soldiers from the poem. The soldiers are described throughout the text with words like “lame” (6, “blind”, (6) and “deaf” (7). These words signify that a sense isn’t working properly. Owen continues to use words like these throughout the poem to further diminish Owen’s image as an honorable young man standing up for his country. This is how you convey that these boys are helpless, and their senses of self and physical health are slipping away as a result.
Owen depicts young men disappearing in the first half. This is to demonstrate the psychological effects that war has on the second half. The second section is an officer’s explanation of how he feels every night haunted by the ghost of one of his fallen men. This section shows that even the ones who weren’t physically hurt suffered from loss of senses in wartime. The gas was not fatal to this officer, but he is haunted by the nightmare every night. Their senses are no longer in control and they lose their ability to escape the battlefield.
This poem will not be forgotten, as Owen’s imagery is very unpleasant. When it is easy to understand and reads, the human mind can be at ease. The mind becomes disturbed by the imagery in Owen’s poem. Although Owen’s argument may be difficult to digest, it is a strong one that he uses to fight against the idea of war being sweet. People will think of Owen’s poem when they think about the Latin phrase, “Dulceet decorum ist pro patriamori”. They will then think of Owens imagery and shake their heads at the thought war.
