Mark Twain’s the The War Prayer uses satire to tie patriotism to religion and the religious patriots as ignorant zealots. The imagery Twain uses invokes a religious connotation to describe patriotism such as holy fire, bringing to mind the burning bush or the Holy Saturday. Twain continues to directly tie the church to patriotism by pointing out that the focus inside the church is not on any religious doctrine or deity but instead to patriotism with the sermon about the country and the country’s flag. Twain shows when there is a prayer to God it is for patriotism and patriotic symbols. Invoking the virtues of a patriot like honor and glory and again tying them to the country and country’s flag. In case there is question of God’s role in this
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The hymn Twain chooses the congregation to recite is significant. There are many psalms, hymns and passages to choose from but Twain chose, “God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!” (Twain 1). Leaving no doubt in which God they recite their prayers. The congregation follows along with a prayer for protection for the soldiers of the congregation and destruction of the foe from God the all-terrible. An archetype messenger emerges to question the congregation and attempt to enlighten them as to what they are truly asking. Twain uses descriptions familiar to other religious characters, “An aged stranger . . . clothed in a robe . . . white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness . . . with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice.” (Twain 1). Twain suggests the congregation are sheep having the messenger use a common religious description of shepherd to describe the congregation leader. Twain feels it is necessary to have the messenger explain to the congregation what they are asking because they are not capable of grasping the consequences just like many of their other prayers.
The hymn Twain chooses the congregation to recite is significant. There are many psalms, hymns and passages to choose from but Twain chose, “God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!” (Twain 1). Leaving no doubt in which God they recite their prayers. The congregation follows along with a prayer for protection for the soldiers of the congregation and destruction of the foe from God the all-terrible. An archetype messenger emerges to question the congregation and attempt to enlighten them as to what they are truly asking. Twain uses descriptions familiar to other religious characters, “An aged stranger . . . clothed in a robe . . . white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness . . . with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice.” (Twain 1). Twain suggests the congregation are sheep having the messenger use a common religious description of shepherd to describe the congregation leader. Twain feels it is necessary to have the messenger explain to the congregation what they are asking because they are not capable of grasping the consequences just like many of their other prayers.