Theme Of Ignorance In War Poetry
Knowledge is war’s greatest enemy. Because of this, in order for war to thrive, a state of ignorance must be perpetuated. War is the pinnacle contradiction against human morality, and for one to be able to betray all sense of ethics, one must abandon the knowledge of this gruesome reality. The theme of ignorance supplementing war is exhibited by three anti-war poems, Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, Vergissmeinnicht by Keith Douglas, and War is Kind by Stephen Crane. Although all of these poems center around a different aspect of war, the central aim of each of these poems remain the same. These poems attempt to combat specific types of ignorance that prevents individuals from understanding that war is not a viable solution to complications,
…show more content…
However, if one is not aware of the contradiction between these two ideals, one can continue to unabashedly support war while holding an an opposing belief. Here, naivety lies not in the lack of knowledge of war itself, but in the lack of reflection in one’s own beliefs. War is Kind, written by Stephen Crane, aims to create a reflection of those who support war in order to make them aware of their own hypocrisy. In the poem, the speaker gives condolences to families who have lost their loved ones in war, but explains that they should not weep for their death, as their death was righteous and necessary. The speaker displays a lack of compassion in their justification, displaying no sympathy for the individual’s loss as the believe that war is kind. Although war is kind if a hyperbole for a less extreme view of war, the author exaggerates this view to show that to those who have experienced loss, any amount sympathy displayed towards war is comparable to this phrase. Through this exaggeration, the reader can more blantly see the hypocrisy hidden by different phrasings of the same idea. “Do not weep, babe, for war is kind/ Because your father tumbled into the yellow trenches /raged at his breast, gulped and died” (12-14). Through these lines, reader becomes immediately aware of how insensitive this justification of death sounds, and through this epiphany, one can begin to reflect on how insensitive their own words may have been. By understanding the contradictory nature of understanding war and supporting war, one begins to realize that the support of war must be abolished to destroy their own
However, if one is not aware of the contradiction between these two ideals, one can continue to unabashedly support war while holding an an opposing belief. Here, naivety lies not in the lack of knowledge of war itself, but in the lack of reflection in one’s own beliefs. War is Kind, written by Stephen Crane, aims to create a reflection of those who support war in order to make them aware of their own hypocrisy. In the poem, the speaker gives condolences to families who have lost their loved ones in war, but explains that they should not weep for their death, as their death was righteous and necessary. The speaker displays a lack of compassion in their justification, displaying no sympathy for the individual’s loss as the believe that war is kind. Although war is kind if a hyperbole for a less extreme view of war, the author exaggerates this view to show that to those who have experienced loss, any amount sympathy displayed towards war is comparable to this phrase. Through this exaggeration, the reader can more blantly see the hypocrisy hidden by different phrasings of the same idea. “Do not weep, babe, for war is kind/ Because your father tumbled into the yellow trenches /raged at his breast, gulped and died” (12-14). Through these lines, reader becomes immediately aware of how insensitive this justification of death sounds, and through this epiphany, one can begin to reflect on how insensitive their own words may have been. By understanding the contradictory nature of understanding war and supporting war, one begins to realize that the support of war must be abolished to destroy their own