Explain Why A War Should Not Be Romanticized Essay

“Thousands entered the war, got just a taste of it, and then stepped out again permanently” (Clemens 149). Based on this, one can infer that many people signed up for war, underestimating the amount of fatigue and torment they would endure both mentally and physically, on and off the battlefield with their comrades. It seems as if the ones who signed up for the war only envision the glorious and prideful exterior, not putting into perspective the hardships that will unexpectedly come their way, and is definitely not something to be taken lightly or belittled. War should not be romanticized. There is more than meets the eye. One argument is that people should volunteer to fight a war with a very specific outcome in mind. This can be supported
when Clemens makes a reference to the realizations the soldiers have while marching. He writes: “We realized with a cold suddenness that here was no jest--we were standing face to face with actual war” (Clemens 151). Based on this, it seems reasonable to suggest that the soldiers have always been in the mindset that they were in a war, but at this moment, the soldiers finally realize that what was once in their minds were now reality.
Not only did the soldiers finally realize what was happening, but also one can infer that the soldiers were now remembering why they volunteered to fight in this war in the first place. This argument is also supported when Samuel Clemens states: “One of the very boys who refused to go out on picket duty that night and called me an ass for thinking he would expose himself to danger in such a foolhardy way, had become distinguished for intrepidity before he was a year older” (157). This suggests that the boy inevitably realized what his true intention of volunteering for the war was. It also seems as if the boy first entered the war fearing for his life, but eventually his mentality changed to one that would typically
be expected from a soldier fighting for their own country. This argument is further supported when Samuel Clemens states: “The boys stood there a half-hour sorrowing over him and recalling the details of the tragedy, and wondering who he might be and if he was a spy, and saying if they had it to do over again, they would not hurt him unless he attacked them first” (159). Here, Clemens suggests that the boys instantly felt remorse at the sight of a lifeless man in front of them. Not only did it appear as the boys couldn’t fathom what had just happened, but also it seems as if they had forgotten that death is inevitable in a war. In addition to this argument, other arguments can be identified. An argument that can be identified in this short story is that war should not be romanticized.
This is supported when Samuel Clemens states: “Then about dawn, we straggled into New London, soiled, heel blistered, fagged with out little march, and all of us, except Stevens, in a sour and raspy humour and privately down on the war” (152). This suggests that the soldiers are fatigued and despising what was currently happening, and only a few of the soldiers stayed optimistic. It seems as if the soldiers have been treading all night and are desperate for rest. This argument is also supported when Clemens makes a reference to the hardships the soldiers are undergoing. He writes: “It was a dismal and heart breaking time. We were likely to be drowned with the rain, deafened with the howling wind and the booming thunder, and blinded by lightning… The drenching we were getting was misery enough, but a deeper misery still was the reflection that the halter might end us before we were a day older” (Clemens 156). Based on this, one can infer that the pleasant part of the war was over now, and the soldiers were currently experiencing the truth of what goes on during wartime that regular civilians don’t realize. This suggests that the soldiers finally understand that war is not glamorous, and they were dreading the war day by day. This argument is again supported when Clemens alludes to the soldier’s reaction when he first shoots who he thinks is the enemy. He states: “The thought shot
through me that I was a murderer, that I had killed a man, a man who had never done me any harm. That was the coldest sensation that ever went through my marrow” (Clemens 159). Here, Clemens suggests that the main character has finally shot and killed someone, but did not have any bit of thrill in his response. Usually in a war situation, one can suggest that feelings of euphoria would travel through a soldier’s blood stream upon the sight of their first kill; but here the soldier feels as if he has committed a sin. Not only can this argument be identified, but others can be identified as well. An argument that is identified is that soldiers should be well trained. This argument is supported when Clemens describes one of the soldiers. He states: “Joe Bowers, another sample, was a huge, good natured, flax headed lubber, lazy, sentimental, full of harmless brag, a grumbler by nature, an experience and industrious ambitious and often quite picturesque liar, and yet not a successful one for he had no intelligent training but was allowed to come up just anyways” (Clemens 151). Based on this, one can infer that Joe Bower did not have the proper training a soldier needed, and only went on the expedition because of his build. If this were to occur in real life, one can infer that he would not be able to survive out on the battlefield as long as the other soldiers would because training makes a difference when it comes to life or death, and if the safety of the other soldiers are compromised. This argument is also supported when Clemens describes the struggles the soldiers face along the way. He states: “The route was very tough and hilly and rocky, and presently the night grew very black and rain began to fall, so we had a troublesome time of it, struggling and stumbling along in the dark and soon some person slipped and fell, and then the next person behind stumbled over him and fell, and so did the rest, one after the other... and this started the whole detachment down the hill in a body and they landed in a brook at the bottom in a pile and each that was undermost was pulling the hair, scratching and biting those that were on top of him and those that were being scratched and bitten scratching and biting the rest in their turn…” (Clemens 154). Based on this, it seems reasonable to suggest that an accident caused the soldiers to quarrel and could have brought attention to themselves if they were nearby enemy territory. One could infer that if the soldiers were properly trained, they would have been more mature about this, and this could have put their entire unit in jeopardy if an enemy would have heard the soldiers. Moreover, this argument is supported when Clemens writes about the aftermath and the effects of the war on some of the soldiers. He states: “One might justly imagine that we were hopeless material for the war. And so we seemed in our ignorant state, but they were those among us who afterward learned the grim trade, learned to obey like machines, became valuable soldiers, fought all through the war, and came out at the end with excellent records” (Clemens 157). Based on this, it seems reasonable to suggest that some of the soldiers have finally adapted to the assets of war. It also seems as if the soldiers have learned as the war continued and became properly well trained to be able to come out with excellent records. Indeed, three arguments can be identified in “The Private History of a Campaign that Failed.” What the reader should note, though, is that among the three arguments, one is particularly relevant: war should not be romanticized. Many people see movies about war and imagine being a part of this evolution where they are able to commit their lives in making a positive difference for their country. However, some might not realize the hardships that come with it, and that once you are in the war, there is no turning back. Large numbers of soldiers return from war with tormenting injuries which may be hard to cope with, because that injury cannot be undone, whether it is a physical or mental injury. War may not be for everyone, for this is more than meets the eye. It seems as if the media only shows the patriotic joy of what is being done in the war, and not the truth. In Clemens’ story, many of his characters seemed to be jubilant in the beginning about being involved in a war. However, it seems that the catastrophes that followed repeatedly weren’t what the soldiers had in mind.