As a poet during the Great War, Seigfried Sassoon expressed opposing views to the extreme patriotic Rupert Brooke. Unlike Brooke, his first encounter of war was none other than on the front line itself, where the grotesque of war is experienced to the fullest. Sassoon held opposing views of the war for he has seen its true nature. Sassoon is not a coward, for even he was awarded a metal for helping a “wounded soldier to safety during heavy fire” (1099). But rather, he did not agree with the nature and violence that erupts within war. And he witnessed every bit of this while eyes on the home front were covered with idealistic and flowery words of patriotism.
In “Glory of Women,” Sassoon portrays the false idolizing of the men of War and their faming patriotism. In this piece, “Women” do not necessarily represent the wives and mothers of the soldiers, but rather the people of England, and England herself, who are blinded behind the lines of War’s cruelties. With a scolding tone, Sassoon criticizes “women” of their judgments on soldiers and their love, idolism, and commendment of their men's heroism (“You love us when we’re heroes”) and famous engagement (“wounded in a mentionable place”) . It is the “decorations” that they really worship, and not their men. Because Sassoon tried to escape going back to war and went so far as to “avoid court-martialed” and leaving for the excuse of “shell shock,” it may have been apparent that he received much criticism for what seems to be cowardice. However, here, Sassoon shows the injustice of the very people he went out twice on the field with his life on the line in order to protect. Disregarding his opposition of the war, they have forgotten his sacrifice for the country over his beliefs. (1099)
He further demoralizes their beliefs by showing the invalidity of “chivalry” for the excuse of “war’s disgrace” (1099). Is it a valid reason to kill, as long as it is for a good purpose? What to it is one of the 10 commandments of the Bible “Thall Shall not Kill.” As long as we have a reason, can we pass our injustice actions off for the sake of judgment? Is it really justice when the means detest the ends?
On the front line, the many troops they see as “heroes” will “retire… When hell’s last horror breaks them, and they run, Trampling the terrible corpses—blind with blood.” Giving examples of the grotesque of war, Sassoon gives accounts of their countrymen “breaking” in the midst of fire. What they see as patriotism is no more than the common soldier’s “Hell.” (1099)
Sassoon also uses irony when he states the ignorance of “German mother[s]” knitting the socks to send to their son the very moment their “face is trodden deeper in the mud.” Back on the home front, war is not as real to the people as it is on the front line. The only consequence they see are the “mourn [of their] laurelled memories when [they’re] killed.” They cannot see the fire, the hell, and the injustice of war to its participants. (1099)
It is interesting to see the views of Sassoon to consider both sides of the story. Only those that recognize this and still choose war have accepted its injustice and agreed to the leverage of their sacrifices, and that is to save a thousand with that of one. It is not idealistic in logic or reason, but it is still rational for the practicality of life this is as close to justice as we can achieve, for there exist those in the universe where words will never reach.
Van,
ReplyDeleteGood discussion of this very different sort of war poem. You provide appropriate passages from Sassoon's "Glory of Women," and make some interesting remarks on them. I think the mention of the German mother at the end is important not just to show her ignorance of what is going on in the front lines, but also to show that the monstrous, bestial Huns (as the Germans were portrayed in the English press) also have mothers who love and will grieve for them. I think Sassoon is appealing to the English women's sympathies in those lines.
Once again, lots of errors in style, syntax and wording detract from and at times obscure the point of this post.
Van,
ReplyDeleteI also wrote on Sassoon's 'Glory of Women,' and found it to be very intriguing and controversial. I felt very strongly opposed to what I thought to be a condemnation of women during this time of war. I did not understand how Sassoon would prefer women to gain their knowledge. I also felt that there encouragement and positive reinforcement to the soldiers was beneficial, although it may have been superficial and ill-informed. I agree with Dr. Glance in that I did not interpret the German mother referenced in the end as ignorant, but ultimately to show how women affect other women (Englidh women making the bullets that kill the German women's sons). I really enjoyed your well written perspectives in this blog :)
Thanks!
-Alex