Hierarchy In Wilfred Owen's Poem

Both of these poems cover the theme of a hierarchy. However, they cover it in different ways. In his poem, Owen takes a more analogical approach, drawing parallels between the biblical story of Abram and Isaac and the governmental faculty of the first world war. However, throughout the poem, he makes several deviations from said story, rather than fire and wood, he uses using “fire and iron”, which were the materials used to make guns. Sitwell chooses to display it in a more realistic fashion, showing the corruptness and lack of sympathy and care in the alchemists. This is shown when they plan on winning over children to fight in the war by saying ‘"Will you sacrifice Through your lethargy What your fathers died to gain?”’. This paints them as evil and corrupt, much like how Owen paints Abram and therefore the older men as evil and corrupt. This shown when Abram ignores the angel’s request and the old man “Slays his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one.” It is also shown in his name. In the Bible Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, …show more content…
Both versions of the governmental men are shown to rather sacrifice the young men and send them to war rather than lose their pride by not partaking in it. Sitwell does this through a monologue of the “richest wizard” while Owen, like the rest of his poem, does it through using the “Ram of Pride” as an analogy for the pride of their country. This is also shown when the ram is “caught in a thicket by its horns”, showing that the world leaders were not willing to back down from the war and lose their pride. Both cover the bitter truth of the situation. This was not sending young men to fight for their country, but pawns being used to maintain patriotic pride. Both are showing that the young could not escape the war. Owen does this by using “belts and straps” as an allegory, while Sitwell uses the propaganda-like speech that ends with “The world must be safe for the