Survival In Liam O Flaherty's The Sniper

To be a successful soldier in war, one must endure extensive training in various situations, including but not limited to, medical practice, survival skills, and strategies. This is of utmost importance because without proper instruction or experience, a soldier could potentially die in crossfire. It can be challenged that in his historical short story The Sniper, Liam O’Flaherty utilizes characterization to imply that the Republican sniper has qualities of an experienced soldier in survival skills and combat training to show his successful survival and defeat of his enemy sniper.

The degree of experience the Republican sniper shows throughout the story supports the idea that he is highly trained in survival skills. Even in times of peril the Republican sniper is able to keep a calm and even composure. “He broke the neck of the iodine bottle and let the bitter fluid drip into the wound. A paroxysm of pain swept through him. He placed the
cotton wadding over the wound and wrapped the dressing over it. He tied the ends with his teeth” (O’Flaherty 2). Regardless of being shot, he was still able to deduce the fact that he had to treat his wound and he did so quickly and smoothly. This also shows that he has at least a basic medical training background. His immediate reaction to getting shot was to pour iodine over his wound and dress it to keep from infection and stop the blood. The gravity of the situation he was in didn’t impair his judgement and he was able to dress his wound swiftly and tranquilly.

Alongside with his survival skills, the Republican sniper displays multiple instances of prior knowledge in combat training.
Consequently, after the Republican sharpshooter was shot, he was no longer able to operate his rifle. He needed a plan to take out the Free Stater rifleman, this is where the ruse comes into play. “Crawling quickly to his feet, he peered over the corner of the roof. His ruse had succeeded.... He took a steady aim… Then the smoke cleared, he peered across and uttered a cry of joy. His enemy had been hit” (O’Flaherty 2-3) He uses the strategy of faking his death and in succeeding, he kills his enemy. The difficult ploy triumphing also aids the concept that the Republican sniper is a skillful marksman. In spite of having an immobile arm as well as a low range revolver, he was able to execute the antagonist with precision and skill. His ability to form strategies under pressure and his accuracy in marksmanship were the largest contributors to the interpretation that the sniper is experienced in
combat.