Shoehorn Sonata 'And Dulce Et Decorum Est'

Composers use a number of elements to convey their particular point of view. Those elements can be anecdotes, visual imagery and language techniques. The understanding of humanity and our capacity to destroy is represented through the distinctly visual. In the Shoehorn Sonata and Dulce Et Decorum Est the writers have invited the audience to examine societies role in acknowledging humane treatment and the importance of reflecting on suffering experienced.

The horror of the war experience is represented visually through the anecdotes. In Dulce Et Decorum Est (Wilfred Owen) and in the Shoe-Horn Sonata (John Misto) the traumatic experience is recreated through the use of symbolism. John Misto positions us to consider the burden of Prisoner of war memories through the use of characters Bridie and Sheila. In Act one scene three Bridie publically states the memory of her ship ablaze and sinking, “some women started to leap from deck... those women who'd jumped were floating quite well – but all of them were dead.” this realisation of the Japanese not being the
only threat beckoned on Bridie and caused shock and disbelief that the protective equipment was fatal in the time of desperate need. In Act one scene three Sheila publically announces the memory of her ship sinking. “it lay there like a wounded animal, spilling oil instead of blood” the descriptive imagery has impacted the audience to visualise the metaphor in association with death and loss of war.

The horror of the war experience is represented visually through the anecdotes. In the Shoe-Horn Sonata and Dulce Et Decorum Est the composers position the viewers notice symbolism and the distinctly visual elements of suffering. Wilfred Owen uses enjambment to present a reflection on the suffering and inhumane treatment of the men. He places the textual evidence of “the blood/ come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.” this creates suspense and an intense tone of empathy and inhumane suffering. Owen also presents concepts of suffering through the textual evidence of present participles “someone still was yelling out and stumbling.” this creates a powerful and evocative sense of suffering, representing how war is a terrifying sacrificial experience, embedding a sour memory of suffering.

The memorable experiences John Misto create is shown through the evidence of Bridie and Sheila in private.
In Act one scene four Bridie grips and emotive statement challenging the question of absence and elements of her perspective. She does this through saying “Don’t you walk out on me again.” reinforcing a strong motive toward the harsh seperation of fifty years of limited friendship due to distance and the lack of contact and commitment Bridie had seeked after the horror of the war experience. In response to Bridies statement, the acceptance of each other is vividly narrow, sheila escapes a statement made when sober, and blurts out in act one scene eight “Don't come near me ever again.” this forces Bridie to feel a sudden sense of desperation to reconcile conflicting relationships. Sheila is holding on to a secret forcing them apart and aiding in the ongoing suffering of the past prisoner of war
experience.

The memorable experiences Wilfred Owen creates is shown through the textual evidence of the non sentence “men marched asleep”. This portrays concepts of the suffering the men endured reinforcing the tired stance and ongoing instance of memory. The soldiers are referred to as men not soldiers to Owen therefore creating innocence and a lack of military relevance. Wilfred Owen also sustains a personal note of dramatic irony and enthusiasm supporting his poem of suffering and inhumane horror through the textual evidence “my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory/the old lie:Dulce Et Decorum Est/Pro Patria Mori.” his tone reminds people of death and sacrifice in which the government convinces and conveys as honorable. This long phrase leaves the responder in disbelief of awe and poignancy, for it states it is sweet and right to die for ones country.

What I see I understand as a reflection of the memory in which suffering and inhumane treatment is present. This was shown through John Misto Act one scene three claiming “victims of history's worst and least known massacre” and impacting on the audience through creating the memorial for the army nurses who have “served, suffered and died in the cause of humanity.”. Wilfred Owen's poem creates understanding of the war experience that lead to suffering and inhuman circumstances.