Attitudes To War

When considering the literature of the past that emerges from times of war and comparing it to the present we denote that our attitudes to war are very much the same now as they were then. Although the vernacular has changed, the patriotism and camaraderie that exists pre-war and the sense of loss and despair after the war are very much the same. In the article “The Great War in British Literature” author Adrian Barlow notes that “The Great War, as we encounter it through literature, is both present and past. The voices we listen to sound like voices from our own time” (10). However, there are voices that still struggle to be heard in the context of war writing, and those voices belong to women. Barlow explains that “During most of the …show more content…
As the day gets darker so does the minds of the soldiers and the nurses that aid them in the canteen. Cannan describes the relentless heat with no relief from a cloudless sky, suggesting that there will be no reprieve on any front as the “endless stream of soldiers” continues to roll into the station. At night, with the station full, one can see “All the youth and pride of England” and hearing the “gay, heart-breaking mirth” to which author Nathan Cervo suggests “is accorded those who are about to die in action” (33). In this context the scene is heart-breaking because the laugh is not one of joy, but more of an attempt to shrug off the despair of a situation well beyond one’s control. As the night continues Cannan portrays the mentality of those supporting the war effort as being of “weariness and laughter… / And the agony and splendor [of those who] stood to save the King” (23, 28), the contrasting emotions reveals a split within those who served. After confronting the destructive wartime realities of combat, some began to rebuke the call to war and “The old Lie” (Owen, 27) of heroic deaths in the service of the country while others felt compelled by the greater good and to ensure those who perished did not do so in vain. In the final line of stanza 11, “And the peace of half-closed shutters that shut out the world outside” (44) conjures the perfect image …show more content…
Meaning that English society had been impacted by the patriotic rhetoric of Brooke and the idea of dying honorably and nobly in sacrificing themselves for the nation, whereas Sassoon, horrified with the brutal reality of outdated tactics and modern weapons wrote poems such as “They” which spoke against the war and challenged the notions of glory when veterans were left with lifelong disabilities. However, Cannan stated that she was not coming home with Sassoon that “Someone must go on writing for those who were still convinced of the right of the cause” (2043). The final stanza in “Rouen” reflects that notion of writing for the lost. Cannan presents a world slipping into darkness, into disbelief, but, through it all her “heart goes out to Rouen” (50). In retrospect she remembers the adventure of it all and those who made the ultimate sacrifices for king and country. As a reminder to us all, Cannan keeps those thoughts of remembrance and honor fresh, with leading questions, asking if we can recall or could you forget those involved, to ensure their deaths were not in vain. Cannan’s poem reflects on her time serving soldiers at a canteen in Rouen, France and the momentous adventures she had. As an active participant her tone is not of