Le Feu By Henri Barbuse Sacrifice Analysis

Explore the theme of sacrifice in Le Feu by Henri Barbusse.

‘The self-sacrifice of individuals for the sake of the community, suffering made glorious - those two things which are the basic elements of the profession of arms - respond to both our moral and aesthetic concepts. The noblest teachings of philosophy and religion have found no higher ideals.’ (De Gaulle, 1960, p.10)

The concept of sacrifice is fascinatingly complex and multi-faceted. Whereas one individual may consider sacrifice as tantamount to glory, another may equally, and rightly, consider slaughter its greater suitor. Essentially, this seemingly paradoxical dynamic stems from the complicated relationship sacrifice has with the individual, where ‘sacrificing oneself’ would
As a socialist, the act of participating in this war was a prerequisite to condemnation, a worthwhile sacrifice to fulfilling his socio-political cause where “one must share in the suffering in order to bear witness [to which] the act of writing becomes a bitter denunciation, a battle against ideological falsehoods.” (2009, p.48) To help justify this act which challenges his integrity, Barbusse adopts an archetype of Western thought, identified by political scientist Jean Bethke Elshtain as the ‘Just Warrior.’ The Just Warrior is ‘a man who can behave both violently and virtuously because of the absolute righteousness of his cause. A peace loving man can thus become a ferocious (if most often reluctant) aggressor in the name of the just cause” (Smith, 1995, p.256) This ‘just cause’ for Barbusse, is his testimony of the ‘truth,’ set against the ideological manipulation of the pro-war propaganda press. The revelation of this ‘truth’ (the word truth is used hesitantly here as one must understand that it is a very carefully constructed truth, one that, of course, supports Barbusse’s socio-political stance) is worthy of any sacrifice as it will be precisely those sacrifices which will reveal
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