What Does A Death Bed Figurative Language Mean

RD3 Figurative Meaning Utilizing concrete detail/imagery as his leading elements, as well as some figurative language, Kipling communicates the horrific ways in which soldiers died. “A Death-Bed” portrays vivid images of the use of new developments of warfare and weapons created. These advances were unknown and unusual to those who were fortunate enough not to experience the destructive effects of the war. Kipling sought to communicate not only the event itself, but what it entailed and meant for the soldiers and those they served for. “This is a State above the Law. The State exists for the State alone.” (Lines 1-2) Due to the importance the war carried in regards to politics and other affairs, the United States or the “State” as Kipling referred to it, cared little about the troops it had to sacrifice (Kratsas Web). As a master or craft through words, Kipling’s intellect allowed him to distinguish between the true intentions of the state and what it disguised these intentions or sold to the soldiers as in order to convince them to endure such difficult trials. The State sold the idea as a simple and powerful word- patriotism. This ideal, and really
the reason why the soldiers fought regardless of the brutal danger this war entailed, created a strong sense of loyalty and a motivation to fight (Wilcox Web).
What made World War I a distinctive conflict can be attributed to the combination of weapon innovation and the influence politics played in the matter. 60 Million Soldiers engaged in combat from countries all over the world. With this amount of people engaging in a deadly conflict, new developments and weapons became a vital asset that would ensure a dominance of a party in an event of this magnitude. Therefore, flamethrowers, grenades, machine guns, poison gas, tanks, trench warfare, and later, trench mortars, were conceived as mortal weapons that changed the history of warfare (Duffy Web). Due to the attention an event of this extent created, battles were fought in a variety of ways- armed combat, political discussions, and of course, poetry. Kipling took a part in war poetry and brought cognizance to people before they made a choice to involve themselves even further in the war- “There is neither Evil nor Good in life. Except as the needs of the State ordain”. Furthermore, because the war cost him his son, if the State recruited more people to serve in its name, Kipling sought to expose what individuals who chose to engage in open combat would encounter (Agamben et al Web). Many implications stated through his use of figurative language towards the State its true purposes. His contribution through his writing brought a different perspective to the propaganda the State created of the war, therefore, he saved the lives of those who would need more than “patriotism” to survive the agonizing consequences of open combat during World War I. Another element, and the one that shows prevalence in “A Death-Bed”, is imagery. “Some die eloquently, pressed to death by the sliding trench as their friends can hear. Some die wholly in half a breath. Some- give trouble for half a year”. Kipling takes a realistic and direct approach when he composes this poem. In the quote aforementioned, he addresses that regardless of the time it takes for an individual to die in the conflict hardly makes a difference to them because unfortunately, it is bound to happen regardless. Combatants who accepted to take a part in this conflict were briefed from the beginning that cowardice would not be tolerated. Those who failed to comply with the requirements directed to them were punished by death (Wilcox Web).
In an attempt to describe the new weaponry that was developed, Kipling wrote about it as well- “Some die shouting in gas or fire; some die silent, by shell and shot, some die desperate, caught on the wire…” Employing this vivid and horrifying imagery, the individuals who enlisted in the army were no longer ignorant to the degree of destruction they would encounter. Kipling’s purpose consisted of informing and warning candidates what they would involve themselves with if they chose to engage in open combat during the war.
Why then did people choose to engage in warfare anyway?
Kipling also addressed this controversy in his poem- “Some die saintly in faith and hope- some die thus in a prison-yard- Some die broken b rape or the rope; Some die easily. This dies hard”. The State inspired and persuaded people to enlist in the light that it was “the right course of action”. To fight for the people of the country, for faith, and for those who had already sacrificed their lives in the war (Shaw Web). Kipling informed that this ideology was a hard concept to grasp in the heat of war and while some died in a state of good faith and hope, what they had experienced did not allow as peaceful a parting as the State portrayed it would be. That in actuality, death was hardly ever kind and often took the lives of soldiers in the harshest ways
possible. Through figurative language and imagery, Kipling portrayed the true entitlements and purposes of World War I. The true ideology of the states and their need for people to fight a war that they were aware would cost an innumerable amount of lives. An image of the involvements in which soldiers placed themselves in order to do what they deemed to be right. In the end, Kipling honored these heroes by recognizing the hardships and service of the people who chose to sacrifice their lives for their country, friends, and family.