I Beg You Brother Do Not Die
In many cases, it really isn’t all that honorable to die for your country. While it may be shocking, this idea stems quite far in history, but it’s still relevant today. People in power use this standard in order to persuade civilians to defend their country and feel in their hearts that they should. Often times, less well off people resort to joining military forces in order to feel that they have purpose in their lives. Commoners accept the fact that they are risking their lives because the wealthy and powerful make them believe that, by fighting in the war, they are somehow benefiting the greater good of the country, and it comes with great honor. However, it is just a tactic the government uses to trick people and grow their military. In wars, like World War I, the United States used a draft system to recruit people to fight. They used propaganda like the poster of Uncle Sam pointing and saying “I want YOU for the US army”. Uncle Sam was used to represent the patriotism of the United States to boost US citizens pride
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for their country and create the will to fight for it, even though a massive amount of recruits died. “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die” and “Dulce et Decorum Est” are poems that convey to their respective audiences the idea that there is no honor in dying in war, by sharing the theme that wars are started by the rich and fought by the poor.
The poems "I Beg You: Brother Do Not Die" and “Dulce et Decorum Est” share the theme of wars are started by the rich and fought by the poor to demonstrate that there is no glory in dying in war. In "I Beg You: Brother Do Not Die", the speaker’s brother is preparing to go to war, and she feels the need to persuade him not to go. She asks him why it concerns him if the Russian naval base in China falls or stands. Given that they are merchants, their occupation puts them on the lower spectrum of the socio-economic scale. The Imperial Majesty, is on the opposite side. The speaker wants to convince the brother that there’s no real personal benefit in his fighting in the war, which will only benefit the rich. At the same time, the wealthy in power, intends to persuade their military recruits to fight in the war, arguing that even dying in battle is an honorable deed. In Dulce, the theme of wars being started by the rich and fought by the poor, lies in the title. “Dulce et Decorum est” is a Latin phrase that translates to “Sweet and fitting it is to die for your country”, originally written by the Roman poet Horace who lived in the first century BCE. Dr. Jeff Mirus from Catholic Culture explains that during the Renaissance, books and bibles, originally written in Latin, were translated in the vernacular of the country because only the wealthy and educated or the clergymen spoke Latin (Mirus). Thus, it is fitting that a phrase meaning “it is honorable the die for your country”, would be written in a language that only the wealthy speak. The wealthy imposed this standard among the poor because they needed to ensure that the poor had an incentive to fight their wars. Therefore, it was necessary to make them believe that it was honorable to fight for their country. The speaker explains that the latin phrase “Dulce et decorum est” isn’t a standard people should live by because there is no sweetness in the pain and suffering caused by the war. In addition, it shouldn’t be the poor’s duty to fight the wealthy’s battles. Although both, “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die” and “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, share this theme, the poems have a difference as well.
The audience in “Dulce et Decorum Est” is widespread, without a single, specific listener, so the speaker talks about his experience to the general public in order to relate the thought that there is no honor in dying in war. The speaker tells the story about his painful experience in battle to a broad audience, as if he was addressing them personally . ... . He uses the term “friend” to encompass his whole audience asking them to tell their children not to believe that there is honor in dying in war. The goal of addressing a widespread audience was to reach the masses and spread his message regarding the lack of glory in perishing on the battlefield. By widely sharing his personal experience at war, he is able to explain what really occurs, and illustrate the reasons why they shouldn’t be persuaded with the idea of honorable death in the battles. In “ I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die”, the the speaker had a direct, personal relationship with her audience, specifically her brother, so she uses matters that pertain to him in order to convince him that there is no honor in dying in war.
Due to their familial ties, she knows a lot about her brother’s personal life, so she uses that information to guilt him into staying home rather than risking his life at war. Some arguments she uses include the fact that his mother needs his support in her grieving after the recent passing of his father, or the possibility of abandoning his wife of only ten months. Also, she was only speaking to one person, her brother, and her goal was to persuade him only, as opposed to a wide audience of. She repeats “I beg you brother do not die” various times in the poem and by “brother” she means her own flesh and blood. Her goal was to protect her brother and make sure he knows that there is no honor in dying in
war. The idea of going to war because it is thought to be honorable is still relevant today. ... . The consequences people experience from war are not worth it. Similar to what the speaker experiences in “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, traumatic experiences, like the mustard gas bombs, can cause post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. According to helpguide.org, this disorder causing anxiety or flashbacks triggered by traumatic events. It affects personal relationships because it causes bursts of violence, negative changes in mood, and constantly being on guard and emotionally reactive. However, PTSD is also harmful to the individuals themselves as it causes a flux of suicidal thoughts or feelings ( Smith et al ). PTSD shows that it isn’t honorable to serve for your country because a few years of service can affect you mentally and emotionally for the rest of your life. Dying in war also takes an emotional toll on the people closest to you who have to deal with the loss and grieve for their loved ones. It splits up families and causes parents to raise their children and take care of their family on their own. This motivates individuals to convince their children, siblings, or parents that it isn’t worth dying in war, like in “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die”. Finally, because of the mental effects of war, veterans have a hard time getting back on their feet after they return and reintegrate to society. Employers don't want to hire veterans and as a result a great number of them become homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless claims that twenty three percent of homeless people are veterans (Joan Alker). This is the final proof that it isn’t honorable to die in war. War causes families to be split, develops mental illnesses, homelessness, and death...and for what?
for their country and create the will to fight for it, even though a massive amount of recruits died. “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die” and “Dulce et Decorum Est” are poems that convey to their respective audiences the idea that there is no honor in dying in war, by sharing the theme that wars are started by the rich and fought by the poor.
The poems "I Beg You: Brother Do Not Die" and “Dulce et Decorum Est” share the theme of wars are started by the rich and fought by the poor to demonstrate that there is no glory in dying in war. In "I Beg You: Brother Do Not Die", the speaker’s brother is preparing to go to war, and she feels the need to persuade him not to go. She asks him why it concerns him if the Russian naval base in China falls or stands. Given that they are merchants, their occupation puts them on the lower spectrum of the socio-economic scale. The Imperial Majesty, is on the opposite side. The speaker wants to convince the brother that there’s no real personal benefit in his fighting in the war, which will only benefit the rich. At the same time, the wealthy in power, intends to persuade their military recruits to fight in the war, arguing that even dying in battle is an honorable deed. In Dulce, the theme of wars being started by the rich and fought by the poor, lies in the title. “Dulce et Decorum est” is a Latin phrase that translates to “Sweet and fitting it is to die for your country”, originally written by the Roman poet Horace who lived in the first century BCE. Dr. Jeff Mirus from Catholic Culture explains that during the Renaissance, books and bibles, originally written in Latin, were translated in the vernacular of the country because only the wealthy and educated or the clergymen spoke Latin (Mirus). Thus, it is fitting that a phrase meaning “it is honorable the die for your country”, would be written in a language that only the wealthy speak. The wealthy imposed this standard among the poor because they needed to ensure that the poor had an incentive to fight their wars. Therefore, it was necessary to make them believe that it was honorable to fight for their country. The speaker explains that the latin phrase “Dulce et decorum est” isn’t a standard people should live by because there is no sweetness in the pain and suffering caused by the war. In addition, it shouldn’t be the poor’s duty to fight the wealthy’s battles. Although both, “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die” and “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, share this theme, the poems have a difference as well.
The audience in “Dulce et Decorum Est” is widespread, without a single, specific listener, so the speaker talks about his experience to the general public in order to relate the thought that there is no honor in dying in war. The speaker tells the story about his painful experience in battle to a broad audience, as if he was addressing them personally . ... . He uses the term “friend” to encompass his whole audience asking them to tell their children not to believe that there is honor in dying in war. The goal of addressing a widespread audience was to reach the masses and spread his message regarding the lack of glory in perishing on the battlefield. By widely sharing his personal experience at war, he is able to explain what really occurs, and illustrate the reasons why they shouldn’t be persuaded with the idea of honorable death in the battles. In “ I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die”, the the speaker had a direct, personal relationship with her audience, specifically her brother, so she uses matters that pertain to him in order to convince him that there is no honor in dying in war.
Due to their familial ties, she knows a lot about her brother’s personal life, so she uses that information to guilt him into staying home rather than risking his life at war. Some arguments she uses include the fact that his mother needs his support in her grieving after the recent passing of his father, or the possibility of abandoning his wife of only ten months. Also, she was only speaking to one person, her brother, and her goal was to persuade him only, as opposed to a wide audience of. She repeats “I beg you brother do not die” various times in the poem and by “brother” she means her own flesh and blood. Her goal was to protect her brother and make sure he knows that there is no honor in dying in
war. The idea of going to war because it is thought to be honorable is still relevant today. ... . The consequences people experience from war are not worth it. Similar to what the speaker experiences in “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, traumatic experiences, like the mustard gas bombs, can cause post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. According to helpguide.org, this disorder causing anxiety or flashbacks triggered by traumatic events. It affects personal relationships because it causes bursts of violence, negative changes in mood, and constantly being on guard and emotionally reactive. However, PTSD is also harmful to the individuals themselves as it causes a flux of suicidal thoughts or feelings ( Smith et al ). PTSD shows that it isn’t honorable to serve for your country because a few years of service can affect you mentally and emotionally for the rest of your life. Dying in war also takes an emotional toll on the people closest to you who have to deal with the loss and grieve for their loved ones. It splits up families and causes parents to raise their children and take care of their family on their own. This motivates individuals to convince their children, siblings, or parents that it isn’t worth dying in war, like in “I Beg You Brother: Do Not Die”. Finally, because of the mental effects of war, veterans have a hard time getting back on their feet after they return and reintegrate to society. Employers don't want to hire veterans and as a result a great number of them become homeless. The National Coalition for the Homeless claims that twenty three percent of homeless people are veterans (Joan Alker). This is the final proof that it isn’t honorable to die in war. War causes families to be split, develops mental illnesses, homelessness, and death...and for what?