The poet talks about the heroism of the young men who died in the war fighting for their nation. It is considered a matter of great pride and honour to die in the service of the nation. It is better to sacrifice one’s life defending and preserving the nation’s interests than living a shameful life of doing no good for the country.
Death is respectful and honourable if it happens for saving one’s countrymen in the war. Those who bother to save themselves and are afraid of losing their lives lack the pride and the respect for the soil that brought them up. It is the true spirit of the countrymen and the guardians of this nation to come up and save the nation.
As per the young men who fought in the war and risked and sacrificed their lives for the nation, life was nothing before the orders of their officers. There is an irony in the second paragraph of the poem where the poet questions if this sacrifice was actually needed. It was not a heroic struggle but a waste of the young lives that were slaughtered by the enemy in the war.
War did no bring any happiness to them. The victory was useless as it only lead to loss of lives which had a fair chance to see a full life. The vision about the war and the picture of soldiers’ heroic struggle in losing their lives for the nation is regretful.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
War did not bring anything to the ones who were killed. The victorious men may have celebrated the end of this war. Patriotism does not mean that one gets bullied in the name of caste and creed. Young men were deceived to death while fighting. They could have seen a better life without the war and the fight. Life was not insignificant to them.
But still they chose to die just because they thought it was worthy to die for their nation. War has nothing to win, but only to lose. Young men should not just die brutal deaths in war because it brings honour to the nation. They should also get to see the life that awaits them.
Thus the poet has tried to put forth the irony of heroic struggle in the war where young men sacrifice their lives for the nation. The thought of sacrifice makes the life meaningless which is all worthy of being lived and enjoyed. Young soldiers and men likewise can do better in the service of the nation if they get a chance to live. They should not feel the shame of cowardice in giving importance to their lives. They should rather be proud to live for the nation than die for it. Thus a life sacrificed in a war is not a symbol of bravery but of foolishness. Life is beautiful but war only expounds the ugly side of it.