Dulce et Decorum Est Essays -- Comparative, Owen, Cummings

Wilfred Owens Dulce et Decorum Est and E. E Cummings, next to of line of credit god america i be poesys that critique fast(a) propaganda. some(prenominal) poems use words and images to effectively depict the influence that patriotic propaganda has on warfare. Dulce et Decorum Est uses descriptive words to create realistic images of the horrors s gagaiers argon set about with during combat, whereas next to of course god america i uses sarcasm to pronounce readers that the abuse of propaganda can be used to manipulate others. The attitudes they convey are quite similar two suggest that propaganda is a lie it is not sweet and fitting to die for ones country. It is ingrained in soldiers minds that to die for ones country is a great and estimable sacrifice. However, in the poem Dulce et Decorum Est the utterer uses powerful words and images to face that patriotic propaganda is an old lie (Owen 27). In the first stanza, the speaker explains the set up that war has on young sol diers Bent double, like old beggars at a lower place sacks/ Knock- Kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge (Owen 1-2). Propaganda portrays soldiers as cosmos young heroes, those who are strong, healthy and vigorous. However, based on the evidence evince in the previous quotation soldiers are not all what propaganda portrays them to be. The speaker chooses words such as bent double, like old baggers and knock-kneed (Owens 1-2) to expose the discomfort and effects that war has on young soldiers. The soldiers are discreetly compared to crippled old men which emphasizes just how badly war has affected their bodies, stripping them of their health, making them weak and helpless like old beggars (Owen 1). Furthermore, the speaker expresses his experience as a sold... ...upport of patriotic propaganda. The speaker whitethorn be worried be puddle of the fear of what he is saying will cause him to being labelled as unpatriotic. Cumming could have incorporated this line into th e poem to enforce personal beliefs and protect national pride. Both poems would agree that patriotic propaganda is a method used to alter nations determine and ideas. Although both poems differ in the portrayal of the patriotic message they both criticize the affects of propaganda. For those who believe that it is sweet and fitting to die for ones country, any man who has experienced war first hand would need that patriotic propaganda is a lie. It would be interesting to further analyze the poems and cypher how historical usage of propaganda and modern media by politicians compare, as well as to analyse if propaganda today is still using and abusing patriotism.