Dulce Et Decorum Es? Your Views?

Question

Dulce Et Decorum Es Pro Patria Mori-It Is Sweet And Fitting, To Die For Your Native Land.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
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.

What Are Your Views On This, What Ddoes It Mean To You?

Answer 1

Although he dared not say it, especially in wartime, the subtext is that patriotism is just another word for hatred - hatred of anyone from a different country or with different culture. In effect, he is saying, "...if this is what love of your own country does to you, then that love is a lie..." And anyway, it's not a matter of dying for one's country, it's more about killing in the name of your own country.

If we agree that all wars represent the failure or failings of politicians and rulers, then dying in war is dying because of someone's weakness or incompetence. Some wars have been presented as "police actions" (Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq) and others as "righteous wars" (Napoleonic, WW2, Cambodia) but, when all is said and done, politicians and rulers have failed, and the common people have to go out there and kill for them. This poem encapsulates the frustration and insight of an intelligent man who realised that WW1 was unnecessary, started by mistake, purposeless and impossible to win by any side. Other war poets come to the same conclusion.

Answer 2

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori means "it is sweet and right to die for your country" He uses the latin which was used by the recruiters at the time. However if you read the poem it is in complete contrast to that sentiment, and illustrates the reality of what it was like to die in the trenches of WWI. Its about being sold this honourable glory when these young men signed up for war; but it turns out to be a massive lie. Its in massive contrast to some of the other poems written at the time, and one of the first 'anti-war' statements in modern history. Bare in mind that at the time it was written, there was no tv and radio (the first radio news broadcasts weren't until after the first world war) - so the only ways that news got back to the public at home was through newspapers or not at all. So his vivid description would have been quite shocking to anyone who read it, as the newspapers would not report in such a way as they do today. Men who didn't enlist were shunned by their families and given a white feather as a sign of cowardice - which shows the mood of supporting the country at the time. Wilfred Owen poem was from an eye witness persceptive - which again was rare. Most of the people writing war poetry were civilians who didn't see the true horror of the trenches. His poem is extremely bitter and painful. It was actually directed at another poet who was pro-war and wrote to try and encourage others to join up. It is interesting as it wasn't published until after the war end and Owen had died (he was killed in the last week of the war). He uses a lot of imagery - metaphors and smilies to compare the men with things that an ordinary person could relate to. Its written in the first person - from his point of view. Have a look at the way the poem has something of a plodding rhythm to it too. It adds to what he's actually saying - rather that being perfect english in sentences. And it challenges the reader to think about death rather than just accept it and put themselves in his position and ask how they would feel. Its a direct appeal to the audience. Hope it helps. I loved that poem - one of the few things in English I ever did really enjoy studying. PS I'm guessing you have been studying a couple of other poems from the time. Pick one that is very pro-war and use it to compare with Owen's poem and how they show war to be honourable and glorious even in death.

Answer 3

This is by one of the war poets - Wilfrid Owen or Sasoon - I may be wrong but it depicts the futility of war and asks the question in my mind, why would a country like Britain go to war in the middle east - even I know that problem will never be solved - and it would appear to me from the Iraq war that it confirms that young life is being wasted and not on a just cause. No young man/woman should be asked to lay down their life for their country fighting a war with no end. So the title is a question and still apt in this day and age.

Answer 4

It means there's no glory in war - but that doesn't make the old saying a lie. It's noble in the extreme to die defending your country against the likes of Hitler.It's also noble for trained troops to do their duty - but a tragic waste if sent to fight a war caused by the politicians' inability to find a peaceful resolution. And most would agree ALL religious wars are an offence to both man and God.

Answer 5

You got the Latin verb wrong it is est not es.
Anyhow that was the equivalent of be all that you can be,join the army.
To be fair to the Romans life expectancy was in the 20's ( because a lot of them never got to be teen-agers)so to join the army and die wasn't that big of a deal.
The conditions were also much different 2500 years ago,when you go to war you provide your own horses,foot soldiers(usually slaves)shields and weapons,and when you were in a battle you were defending your country,or attacking someone else to get the things you need.
War is a dirty business and you can argue the pro and con for ever without making any sense of it.

Answer 6

When I saw the heading of your question, before reading its contents, this quotation came immediately to mind. When one watches processions and parades and sees the trappings of the military and hears the inspiring marches, when one hears the hyperbole uttered over the flag draped coffin of a soldier, all this is a far cry from the stench, dirt and agony of the battle scene. The young men recruited for the First World War to sacrifice their lives for King and Country had a shock awaiting them on the Front almost beyond words. But war poets such as Wilfred Owen did their best to express it in words. It is bad enough to sacrifice one's life and future for a cause one believes in. To do so for a cause one doesn't believe in is terrible indeed.

Answer 7

war is an argument between politicians who are no longer talking to each other. when education was poor and patriotism was blasted from the pall pit this was acceptable in this modern age of so called enlightenment I feel that it is farcical to say the least. war is obsolete, if a politician doesn't like another politician or there policies, then they go fight them and leave me out of it. Look at hamas voted in by the people of Palestine democratically I might add ignored by the rest of the world because the US don't like them. Anyway I digress. I think you get the point, great poetry lousy ideal.

Answer 8

Quite simply, the poet sets out graphically the reality of an obscene death in the squalor of war to demonstrate that this is what war is like and not the glamour often manifested in pictures, parades and story. From this we should learn not to repeat the propaganda and hyperbole of those who encourage the naive young to go to war with heads full of ideals of glory and in a frenzy of patriotism, when all that awaits them is a gruesome death. He argues that patriotism and the glory of dying for one's country is but a lie.

Answer 9

I see it as a soldier's-eye view of the clap-trap advanced by politicians. The description is of gas casualty who had the dumb luck to live (and suffer) a little longer.

America's Patton put better, if a tad more bluntly: "The object is NOT to go out and die for your country -- the object is to make the other S.O.B die for HIS country."

Both are right, by the way.

Answer 10

Nothing that way;
What mori is ?

By the way , I'm dying for a cup of hot soup, never ate land before.
How do they?
Worms?