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Explore how youth and innocence is presented in Disabled., Good point! -…
Explore how youth and innocence is presented in Disabled.
Owen manifests wasted youth in the poem 'disabled'.
"he wonders why"
The verb 'wonder' implies casual thought and innocence. Owen describes the circumstance as utterly futile. the use of the dash creates the effect of a pause for thought and alludes to disappointment. Owen connotes to emotions of regret and sorrow which allows the reader to sympathize with the man's plight and this acts as anti-propaganda for war as it portrays the entire concept as a waste of a life. The alliteration in 'wonders why' depicts sorrow and disapproval of past decisions and the short sentence mirrors his short lived life and alludes to his youth and innocence being discarded and misused.
Youth is shown through the freedom and play-like behaviour.
Shows youth through immaturity
"He thought of jewelled hilts"- he only thinks of the promised "riches" that being a soldier might bring him.
"Smart salutes"- Sibilance stresses how his attention is being given to the wrong things which shows his lack of wisdom and calculation (similar to that of the youth.)
Innocence is showcased by his nostalgia
"And put him into bed"- Even after everything he has been through, it can be assumed that his heart is stuck as when he was only a child sent to war. Not only does Owen showcase the innocence behind family and relationships, but he showcases the eternal bonds that hold them together, which truly highlights the wholesomeness in the text.
"he will never feel again how slim girls waists are"
This implies how he is still a teenager, and the reason for him to volunteer to go to war, is not to sacrifice and provide for his country, but to impress girls and attract them as he misses their tender touch and the sincere feeling of being loved and the general warmth that he thinks he will never be able to receive.
alternatively this could represent the loneliness of war and how much the men who left for war craved love and tenderness.
"Voices of play and pleasure after day"- This juxtaposes against the soldier's old age. Additionally, plosives are used to emphasise his restricted freedom in comparison to the little children playing without a care in the world.
People were victorious about their men going to war, and joyful yet, they weren't aware of the consequences that they had to face
"And soon he was drafted out with drums and cheers"
Ironic as men go to war and deaths comes within
Connotes to the shallow and youthful mindset the man possessed. He went to fight in the war for his own benefit and reputation rather than to protect his country. The use of alliteration in "drafted out with drums" creates a melodic rhythm and alludes to rejoice. this juxtaposes the somber tone of the poem and portrays the contrast between youth and old age as well as the impact of war on ones mindset and growth.
"Some cheered him home"
The word "cheered" symbolizes joy and peace as people would be cheered on for the principled things they have achieved or to encourage the men to not be feared but excited. This innocence portrayed indicates the ironic mindset as the families and friends were not aware that the men are taking a huge risk of sacrificing themselves and may result up dead or never end up coming back
''sleep had mothered''
Metaphor
Sleep 'mothers him. It suggests that its some kind of form of protection. Sleep means resting and comfort its like the mother comforts and protects her child.
He relies on sleep like how others rely on thier mothers. It might even suggest that he doesn't even have a family. Can explain his absent youth. It also Highlights the loneliness and the aftermath of the war.
mothered can refer to youth leaving the man as the verb is in past tense implying that innocence leaves the soldier along with his life? does this make sense yall.
An alternative interpretation could be that, just like growing closer to your mother and having a bond with them, he grows closer to his sleep in an attempt to disconnect from his present reality.
Symbolism and youth
"He's lost his colour"- The metaphorical statement directly symbolises old age and how he has now lost it. "Colour" can connote youth and childhood. When colour is lost, his youthfulness is stripped away from him.
An alternative interpretation to this could be that losing colour insinuates the soldier having lost his innocence at such a young age. He has been exposed to the horrors of war too early and as a result is, metaphorically, already dead.
''for it was younger than his youth, last year''- 'last year' indicates how old he is now. It suggests the harsh and horrifying effects of how war has aged him in a span of 1 year. Loss of youth.
Good point!