Write a commentary on the poem Dulce et decorum est by Robert Frost.
The poem Dulce et decorum est sets light on the reality of war, revealing
the struggles that soldiers had to go through at the time. The whole poem
is written by the speaker’s point of view, showing us he’s also a solider,
giving the readers a realistic view of the insides of war. The use of first
person in “I saw him drowning” shows us how the speaker is reflecting
back to those memories through the past tense. This straightforward
statement implies how traumatised the speaker is, witnessing someone
dying, under reacting from what’s happening revealing the speaker’s
numb feelings and how he is desensitised, in comparison to the readers
which feel shocked at the death of this soldier. This sums up the whole
poem, the contrast between the speaker’s desensitisation and the
reader’s disbelief at the harshness of war.
The poem starts off with the simile “like old beggars under sacks” where
soldiers are belittled and compared to beggars, revealing imagery of
weakness, showing how much the soldiers are struggling in war due to
their lack of training as most soldiers were thrown into the trenches
without much knowledge or even a warning. Their struggle is further
shown through the use of alternative verbs to walking such as “cursed”
and “trudge” as they struggle through the hardships of war. These verbs
describe how difficult and physical war is, representing the soldiers
physical abilities, how they’re strong and capable for doing these actions,
constantly being on the move. However, the simile “coughing like hags”
emasculates the soldiers, comparing them to hags which ultimately
reveals the truth of how weak they are, eliminating the stereotypes of
soldiers being a typical, tough man that saves the world. This comparison
to a hag shows the reality of soldiers being used as if they’re the weapons
themselves, not caring if they’re alive or dead. In addition, the
propaganda of war making men more masculine and strong is proved
wrong as the truth of men suffering is shown.
The difference between someone’s normal life and life in war is
emphasised through the exclamation “gas! GAS!” As readers, if we
smelled gas we would assume someone left the stove on, or that there is
a small gas leak and expect nothing of it. However in war, we are shown
that the smell of gas is linked to an immediate death. The pace changes in
this stanza and becomes very fast, this is shown through the enjambment
in “stumbling- And floun’dring” which reflects on the stress and urgency to
get up and leave. This shows how scared and careful soldiers are as
they’re afraid of death, and that every little thing in the trenches can kill
them.
The listing of the harsh verbs “guttering, choking and drowning” reveals
the helplessness of the dying soldier, representing how everyone in war
puts their life at risk and they do not have any form of help. Death can
happen to anyone in war. The irony is revealed that soldiers are risking
their lives for their country, but when it comes to their country saving
them, there is no hope.
The idea that men are tricked into participating in war is shown through
“incurable sores on innocent tongues” where is reflects how men go into
war thinking they’ll leave with the feeling of achievement, pride and
bravery. However, they're left with the ''incurable sores'' of trauma, shame
and guilt from war. Showing not only the short-term effects that war has
on soldiers, but also the long-term psychological effects that are difficult
to get rid of. This idea of propaganda being incredibly misleading is shown
through the last lines "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The writer
placing this line last emphasizes the Irony of it. The latin phrase stating its
sweet and fitting to die for one's country in reality is the complete
opposite. It's a phrase used to encourage men to join the war and become
a soldier. Once they're in war, or if they survive it they then realise that
the phrase is completely wrong, as shown earlier in this poem how the
soldier's death is described in a very harsh and grotesque death "froth-
corrupted lungs" which contradicts how it's "sweet" to die for one's
country through the detailed and decaying imagery of death.
Generally, this poem states that the truth of war is completely the
opposite from what propaganda states, and what stereotypes attempt to
enforce. It sets light on the tragedy of war.
