Short Story 'Guests Of A Nation'

“Guests of a Nation” is a short story that talks about the conflict between duty and humanitarianism. Bonaparte, the narrator, an Irish soldier, starts the story a hopeful and compassionate solider despite being at war. He get to know the English hostages, Hawkins and Belcher, as friends. Bonaparte puts aside his duty, and lets his humanitarian side ultimately damaging him, when the Englishmen are executed. By the end of the story, Bonaparte no longer sees the good of bad situations, and is completely submerged with darkness. Bonaparte does not simply watch the prisoners, he gets to know them. He drinks tea with them and plays cards with them, even got to know their mannerisms. Bonaparte seemed to get lost in his friendship with the men, and forgot that they were actually technically the enemy. At one point, Jeremiah Donavan (the officer in charge of Bonaparte) catches Bonaparte off guard when he notices how chummy he is with the …show more content…
Noble and Bonaparte have empathy, and it’s obvious their humanitarian duty comes before their soldierly ones. Donavan, is a strict commander, who honestly has probably seen many of his comrades’ die from the enemy’s hands, and has learned he has to put his duty close. He never attempts to get to know Hawkins and Belcher, and Judges Bonaparte and Noble for doing so. One evening, Donavan tells Bonaparte that if the English kill any of the Irish prisoners, the Irish will then order the execution of Hawkins and Belcher. Bonaparte is quite devastated. Bonaparte says “I cannot explain it even now, how sad I felt, but I went back to the cottage, a miserable man” (O’Connor 375). Despite everything, Bonaparte still remains hopeful at this point that “it was more than likely the English wouldn’t shoot our men” (375). Bonaparte decides with Noble not to tell the Irishmen the situation, as it would be cruel, and lays in bed thinking of a way to help the