These Who Die as Cattle October 14, 2008

“What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?/Only the monstrous anger of the guns./Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle/Can patter out their hasty orisons.” in this line of his poem, Anthem For Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen blends the gruesome pictures of mass, violent death, with the idea that this death lacks the humanity and consideration that those who die outside of war experience. What better way to draw attention to how unsympathetic and pointless war is, than to equate those who die, with the way that cattle are grown and slaughtered methodically without thought? What better way to set up the unforgiving scenery behind this from of death than to reference the “monstrous anger of the guns” or “stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle”? A reader could almost feel the overwhelming cadence of guns filling the air while people die and drop in perfect rhythm all around.

Past illustrations of war focused on the life found in war, fighting, glorious living men to whom death was not an end because their story would carry their life on forever. Owen shows us the true story behind this facade and propaganda. Maybe some find justice and glory in dying while in battle. But, the truth is everyone dies no matter how they feel about it, physically without glorious stories to send to future generations, or mentally without the capacity to ever live their lives the same afterword. Any simple glance at the unbelievable amount of senseless death in war, such as that in Owen’s poem, and no justification for war seems big enough, no glory worthy enough, to send someone to fight and die in war.

Dauphin-shmalphin September 20, 2008

The Dauphin is the prince of France, heir to the throne with all of his bright, rich future in front of him. Unfortunately all if this good luck goes to his head. In fact, all of his power distorts a very violent war into nothing but a game in is mind. The Dauphin does not see the people he sends into war as people, but rather pawns in his main goal of displaying his power annihilating Henry. He is blinded by his competition with Henry and forgets the reality of the situation. The Dauphin is in fact, the one who helped start the conflict by mocking Henry by sending him tennis balls. Even when in act 2, scene 4Exeter warns The Dauphin and the King of France of war’s horrors and “the poor souls for whom this hungry war/Opens his vasty jaws, and on your head” (111-112). This, he continues to explain, means that all of the deaths and those affected by their deaths will be this way because of the King’s and The Dauphins decision to go to war. The Dauphin shows the depth of his arrogance by responding with “I desire/Nothing but odds with England.” In the end The Dauphin might have a reality check by King Henry’s victory over him, and by losing his power and throne to Henry. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if, because of his pompous personality, The Dauphin simply became more bitter towards England and Henry.

Ancient Glory in a Modern World September 12, 2008

We tend to read ancient texts such as The Song of Roland or The Battle of Maldon with a sense that our world has evolved since those days of constant and violent battling. In some ways I would agree with this, however, while searching Milblogs for an example of what a modern warrior looks like, I found some surprising similarities. According to both The Song of Roland and The Battle of Maldon, a warrior is someone who does not show fear, who has a strong sense of camaraderie, and who won’t give up, but rather fight until they die while taking out a many of the enemy as possible. A person who displays all of these characteristics correctly will often die with glory, or a sense that they succeeded in fulfilling the warrior ideal in their society.

To die simply for glory sounds absurd to a lot of people now, but I don’t think our modern reasons are too far off from the ancient goals. For instance, in one Milblog called “American Soldier” this soldier speaks of “uncommon valor” a trait, which shows bravery, camaraderie, and the willingness to die for a cause. He tells the story of a soldier who shot the driver of an attacking suicide truck-bomb. The soldier saved many lives by doing so, however, the bomb was detonated and the soldier was killed. The deceased soldier was said to have all the same traits that were found honorable in ancient literature. In the end, I think this shows that even though our modern world has changed the circumstances, we are all still searching for a meaning behind death, and glory is still a popular answer.

Lysistrata, The Comedy September 2, 2008

I think I might be a closet anthropologist because, even when I’m asked to comment on a specific work of literature I immediately start thinking on how the literature might reflect the society or what it means in the terms of the writer’s opinions instead of what is significant within the writing itself. And so, after reading Lysistrata, I find myself imagining a society that is used to, though a bit tired of warfare, quite open about sex and maybe in need of a comedy that pokes fun at both sex and war. One irony I found was that they make fun of war using a very violent form of comedy, both verbally and physically. This maybe the normal humor at that time but it seemed very intense to me, like they were desensitized to violence to the point where it became funny (though this can be found in our own culture as well). Though they did portray war as something that bankrupted and ultimately harmed the society, the contradiction of they violent humor stole from the validity of that message. In the end, it was simply a comedy.

About Me September 1, 2008

My name is Kirah Rawls, I am a junior at Grand Valley State University. I’m majoring in International Relations with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. I plan to translate or work for non-profit organizations centered in the Middle East after I graduate. I’d like to help refugees and others affected by war.

I have lived all over the U.S., including Idaho, Denver, and Washington D.C. Though I grew up in Mt. Pleasant, MI. My dad works in administration in an international university and my mom writes and illustrates children’s books. I have grown up with art and I love to paint whenever possible.