In midst of a Great Depression, America’s suicide rate significantly increased during World War II. In contrast to America’s common conception as a land of plenty, World War II restricted thousands of people’s lives and their actions, effectively suppressing opportunities. Serving in a military, an aspect of life that is typically perceived as patriotic, ironically, became dull and futile. In this passage from “A Separate Peace,” John Knowles displays the uniqueness of the era by characterizing America as depressing through the use of contrasting syntax, foreboding diction, and dull imagery.
Throughout the passage, Knowles asserts multiple juxtapositions to emphasize the common perception of happiness in America with its harsh reality. Knowles …show more content…
For instance, Knowles develops a pessimistic attitude towards America’s fate by characterizing it as a “military future.”(33) This foreboding language limits the reader’s mind into perceiving only a single outcome for everyone’s future during an era in which fighting is everlasting. Knowles also describes America’s war rival, Benito Mussolini, as an “eternal world leader”(33) being hanged on “meathooks,”(33) illustrating a gory scene in the passage. The connotation of “meat hooks”(33) creates a comparison with “eternal world leaders”(33) to pigs in a slaughter factory, supporting the menacing dark atmosphere of the passage in a world of death. Further contributing to his pessimistic view of the war, the act of fighting heroically against opposing world leaders and serving in military is ironically perceived as “unpatriotic,”(33) causing the readers to realize the efforts of military men are futile and depressing. By allowing the reader to recognize the bleak nature of the passage, Knowles is able to accentuate the uniqueness of the era because of its abnormal
Throughout the passage, Knowles asserts multiple juxtapositions to emphasize the common perception of happiness in America with its harsh reality. Knowles …show more content…
For instance, Knowles develops a pessimistic attitude towards America’s fate by characterizing it as a “military future.”(33) This foreboding language limits the reader’s mind into perceiving only a single outcome for everyone’s future during an era in which fighting is everlasting. Knowles also describes America’s war rival, Benito Mussolini, as an “eternal world leader”(33) being hanged on “meathooks,”(33) illustrating a gory scene in the passage. The connotation of “meat hooks”(33) creates a comparison with “eternal world leaders”(33) to pigs in a slaughter factory, supporting the menacing dark atmosphere of the passage in a world of death. Further contributing to his pessimistic view of the war, the act of fighting heroically against opposing world leaders and serving in military is ironically perceived as “unpatriotic,”(33) causing the readers to realize the efforts of military men are futile and depressing. By allowing the reader to recognize the bleak nature of the passage, Knowles is able to accentuate the uniqueness of the era because of its abnormal