Throughout human history, war has been a common solution to settle conflict or disagreements between people. War has and will always be apart of this world, because no matter how much death it causes humans will never change. Some people have come to see the idiocy in war and have even written about it in poems, short stories, etc. One of these people, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, has mocked this absurd and pointless practice. Twain’s essay The War Prayer satirizes the customs of praying for safety and victory in war and for equating war with patriotism. During times of war, it is safe to say that life can easily be lost. Twain’s essay features soldiers going to war but praying for their own well being: “merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in His mighty hand” (Twain). Twain is ridiculing the idea that soldiers, who are trained to kill, would expect God to bless them. He mocks such a thought by …show more content…
No matter what the cause, war and the killing of another human being cannot be justified. Twain shows how war can and has been justified by patriotism: “the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism” (Twain). The very essence of the people’s pride blinds them into becoming murderers, for their patriotism is their pride. Twain expresses this arrogance as a burning fuel to go to war. Twain exemplifies the irony of the people’s happiness towards the soldiers: “The proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion” (Twain). It is ironic how they are cheering for their “young men” to go out and kill people. This is connected to patriotism in Twain’s satire, as “the pastors preached devotion to flag and country” even though it means spilling blood
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.” Mark Twain. Do you truly appreciate the country you live in? The fact that you can be proud of saying the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’, can have an easier lifestyle, see amazing attractions, and have rights and freedom. When people show patriotism, this is showing their country love, devotion, and dedication.
War is described here as a “Chronic Illness”. Furthermore, Remarque writes this to also take a stab at the faulty idea of Nationalism which causes way more harm than good and basically forces people to enlist in the army who have no business being involved
The authors of the book quote former President William Howard Taft by him saying that the war was “a cataclysm” and “a retrograde step in Christian civilization,” and “a disaster to mankind”. These profound words were found more prominently than you think, from different politicians and leaders in America. As the thought of war began to creep closer and closer into
War. Is it a necessary injustice? Does it leave us in triumph or with shattered dreams? War can bring brutality and death to many innocent people, but it can also create unity and result in freedom. The repercussions of war rely on war itself.
War carries important morals that heighten the perspective of men and women on their nation, but it also entails many acts and experiences that leave lasting effects on their emotional and physical state. Throughout the following texts, Paul Baumer, the dead soldiers, and Kiowa’s comrades all sustain losses that compel them to persevere and fight harder. All Quiet on the Western Front, Poetry of the Lost Generation, and an excerpt from In the Field all connect to the recurring theme, horrors of war, that soldiers face everyday on the front line through the continuous battle. War involves gruesome battles, many of which lead to death, but these events forever affect the soldier’s mind and body. In All Quiet on the Western Front, men experience horrific sights, or horrors of war, through the depiction of the terrain, death, and the
Someone once said, “War is a curse on humanity that never ends.” Liam O’Flaherty’s “The Sniper, Homer’s “The Odyssey”, and Tim O'Brien's “Ambush” show that war is a curse in different ways. Firstly, Liam O’Flaherty’s “The Sniper” shows the first part of the the curse of war: war tears families apart. In “The Sniper”, a young sharpshooter faces off against his target, another marksman. The sniper gets shot in the arm, but manages to kill his target using his revolver.
In his essay titled “Corn-pone Opinions,” the famous American author Mark Twain explores the idea of public opinion and its correlation with human nature. Twain, known as the “father of American literature,” was particularly talented at observing and analyzing the people around him. He discusses corn-pone, or bland, opinions, and how they are a result of a lack of uniqueness and independence in people. According to Twain, trends in society are born from conformity, and die by the habits and opinions of outside influences, rather than the independent thinking Twain believes in.
This idea ties into the broader theme of war and its effect on people, highlighting the way in which the demands of war can erode an individual's sense of morality and integrity. The pressure to conform to the expectations of those in power can be overwhelming and can make it difficult for individuals to maintain a sense of personal values or a commitment to doing what is right. A poignant expression of the overarching theme of war's devastating impact on individuals and society as a whole is demonstrated when the author writes, "Neumann One raises a single steady hand. His mouth is expressionless, but in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, Werner can see
War is about principles. It can be used to end injustice, tyranny, or both. It can band people together to form a bond that is unbreakable, all fighting for the same cause. But that bond can have a high price. War kills soldiers, tearing them from family; it kills innocent people, just trying to survive.
The first sentence of The War Prayer causes one to think that there is great and exalting excitement because Mark Twain said, “This was a time of great and exalting excitement. ” When we read the next line, Mark Twain says, “The country is up in arms.” In those first two sentences, your mind switches the perspective of what is happening from good to bad. In The War Prayer, there is also a lot of emphasis to exaggerate certain points like the soldiers swung by instead of marched. Other examples of this are cyclones of applause, and the deepest deeps of their hearts.
War brings out the worst in people. Even though war is necessary, it can come with terrible actions and event as well as greed. While Saranell and Geneva are in the cabin, a Confederate soldier barges in. As he shrugged off the blue greatcoat, he
War and its affinities have various emotional effects on different individuals, whether facing adversity within the war or when experiencing the psychological aftermath. Some people cave under the pressure when put in a situation where there is minimal hope or optimism. Two characters that experience
Finally war kill lots of people. One example is “I think we ought to bomb the daylights out of them, as long as we don’t hit any women or children or old people, don’t you?… ‘Or hospitals,’ he went on. ’And naturally no schools. Or churches.’ ‘We must also be careful about works of art,’...
A portrait of Mark Twain Samuel Clemens or as many people know for his pseudonym Mark Twain was known for his work of literacy. His biggest achievements in literacy were the work of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain’s first achievement happened in 1865, in literacy when he wrote The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (“Mark Twain” 23). He was considered one of the best authors of his time and his stories became a huge part of the literature world. Before Twain became a well known author his life was a difficult but throughout his journey many factors influenced him to be the person he was.
The men took their guns along, so did Buck, and kept them between their knees or stood them handy against the wall. The Shepherdsons done the same. It was pretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love, and such-like tiresomeness; but everybody said it was a good sermon, and they all talked it over going home, and had such a powerful lot to say about faith and good works and free grace and preforeordestination, and I don’t know what all, that it did seem to me to be one of the roughest Sundays I had run across yet.” This text shows how society is corrupt, for multiple reasons. Not only are families who kill each other going to a sacred place together under a temporary cease-fire, they are also hearing a preacher speak about brotherly love and saying that it is a good sermon.