The Horrors of War in Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est

Wilfred Owen's poem, "Dulce et Decorum Est," is a vivid portrayal of the horrors of war and the misleading propaganda that encouraged young men to enlist in the military during World War I. The poem reveals the harsh reality of war, its effects on soldiers, and the toll it takes on their physical and mental health. Through powerful imagery, Owen effectively conveys the message that war is not glorious, but rather a traumatic experience that scars those who endure it.

The poem opens with a vivid description of soldiers returning from the front line, exhausted and marching "like old beggars under sacks" (Owen 1). The simile used here emphasizes the physical toll that war takes on soldiers, reducing them to the status of beggars. The poem then moves on to describe a gas attack, as the soldiers struggle to put on their gas masks in time. The graphic imagery used here, such as the description of a soldier "drowning" in the gas, effectively conveys the horror of the situation. The use of the word "drowning" is particularly powerful, as it suggests the soldiers are dying not from a bullet wound, but from the very air they breathe.

In the second stanza, Owen continues to use graphic imagery to describe the soldiers' suffering. He writes, "If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood / Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs" (9-10). The use of the word "gargling" is particularly striking, as it suggests a choking or drowning sensation, and emphasizes the brutality of the soldiers' deaths. The words "froth-corrupted lungs" are also significant, as they suggest the physical decay that war brings about.

Owen's use of irony in the third stanza is particularly effective in highlighting the disconnect between the realities of war and the propaganda used to promote it. The Latin phrase "Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori" (11-12), which translates to "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country," is repeated throughout the poem. However, Owen twists the phrase to highlight its absurdity, writing, "The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori" (27-28). The use of the word "Lie" emphasizes the contrast between the patriotic slogans used to promote war and the brutal reality of the battlefield.

In the final stanza, Owen describes the aftermath of the gas attack, with the soldiers' bodies "flung" into a wagon "like sacks" (15-16). The use of the word "flung" suggests a lack of respect for the dead, reducing them to mere objects. The image of bodies being thrown into a wagon like sacks is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the soldiers' lives were seen as expendable.

Overall, "Dulce et Decorum Est" is a powerful critique of war and the propaganda used to promote it. Owen's use of vivid imagery, irony, and powerful language effectively conveys the horrors of war and its toll on soldiers. The poem serves as a reminder that war is not glorious, but rather a traumatic experience that scars those who endure it.