In “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen uses a plethora of corrupt and revolting imagery, diction and irony that contradicts the glorification of fighting for one’s country. Owen strives to unmask the humiliation and irreversible effects that war has on those involved and those who are being deceived into the ideal that it is “Sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” Naturally, the poems diction portrays a direct contradiction of the perception that fighting for one’s country is “sweet and fitting” due to Owen’s view point on the duplicity of war. Owen depicts the ragged state of the soldiers in the first stanza when he notes that the soldiers are: “Bent double, like old beggars”, “Knock-Kneed, coughing like hags” “towards our distant
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In the last lines of the poem the irony is revealed when Owen revolts against those whom agree that dying for your country is “sweet and fitting.” The propaganda Owen speaks of is from the fascist government which is polluting the minds of young children. "Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues", "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest (l.24.-l.25.)." Within these quotes Owen shows his disbelief by stating that the people we are supposed to trust would not deceive children in this way, but indeed they did. He Also refers to the government as “My friend” which suggests that Owen once encountered this cruel manipulation that lured him into a mosh pit of lies. He is holding the government reliable for what he and the others had to undergo. Owen makes it known that if the hierarchy had to endure the torment of war they would grasp the concept of what Owen calls “The old lie (l.27.).” The root of this irony stems from the phrase “Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori (l.29.-l.30.). This line is where the reader comes to realize Owens view point of the wrongful morality of those whom recruit with misinformation about the dangerous aspects of war. The poem puts chauvinistic qualities of war into question with exposing the savagery of war. Instead of instilling exhilaration to fight for our country, they should instill fear in the young and inform them of what they are
In the last lines of the poem the irony is revealed when Owen revolts against those whom agree that dying for your country is “sweet and fitting.” The propaganda Owen speaks of is from the fascist government which is polluting the minds of young children. "Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues", "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest (l.24.-l.25.)." Within these quotes Owen shows his disbelief by stating that the people we are supposed to trust would not deceive children in this way, but indeed they did. He Also refers to the government as “My friend” which suggests that Owen once encountered this cruel manipulation that lured him into a mosh pit of lies. He is holding the government reliable for what he and the others had to undergo. Owen makes it known that if the hierarchy had to endure the torment of war they would grasp the concept of what Owen calls “The old lie (l.27.).” The root of this irony stems from the phrase “Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori (l.29.-l.30.). This line is where the reader comes to realize Owens view point of the wrongful morality of those whom recruit with misinformation about the dangerous aspects of war. The poem puts chauvinistic qualities of war into question with exposing the savagery of war. Instead of instilling exhilaration to fight for our country, they should instill fear in the young and inform them of what they are