'Mental Cases' by Wilfred Owen
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Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?
Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows,
Drooping tongues from jays that slob their relish,
Baring teeth that leer like skulls' teeth wicked?
Stroke on stroke of pain,- but what slow panic,
Gouged these chasms round their fretted sockets?
Ever from their hair and through their hands' palms
Misery swelters. Surely we have perished
Sleeping, and walk hell; but who these hellish?
-These are men whose minds the Dead have ravished.
Memory fingers in their hair of murders,
Multitudinous murders they once witnessed.
Wading sloughs of flesh these helpless wander,
Treading blood from lungs that had loved laughter.
Always they must see these things and hear them,
Batter of guns and shatter of flying muscles,
Carnage incomparable, and human squander
Rucked too thick for these men's extrication.
Therefore still their eyeballs shrink tormented
Back into their brains, because on their sense
Sunlight seems a blood-smear; night comes blood-black;
Dawn breaks open like a wound that bleeds afresh.
-Thus their heads wear this hilarious, hideous,
Awful falseness of set-smiling corpses.
-Thus their hands are plucking at each other;
Picking at the rope-knouts of their scourging;
Snatching after us who smote them, brother,
Pawing us who dealt them war and madness.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Mental Cases by Wilfred Owen: An Interpretation
Poetry is often seen as a way to express emotion and convey messages to others. It can be used to inspire, educate, and entertain. However, some poets use it as a tool to shed light on the darker aspects of humanity. In "Mental Cases," Wilfred Owen does just that. In this poem, he explores the experiences of soldiers who have been scarred by the horrors of World War I.
The Poem
"Mental Cases" is a poem that consists of three stanzas, each one with a different length. The first and third stanzas have six lines, while the second has eight. The poem is written in free verse, and there is no discernible rhyme pattern. The language used in this poem is both powerful and vivid, with Owen using graphic imagery to convey the sense of despair and hopelessness experienced by soldiers suffering from mental illness.
The first stanza describes the physical appearance of the soldiers, with Owen referring to them as "these who are mad as the madmen." He uses words like "shadows," "writhing," and "twisted," to emphasize the disfigurement and deformity of the soldiers. He also speaks of their eyes as being "white," which gives them an otherworldly appearance.
In the second stanza, Owen explores the mental state of the soldiers. He speaks of their minds as being "wrinkled," "shrunken," and "dried up." He also alludes to the soldiers being "unseeing," which suggests that they have lost touch with reality. The imagery used in this stanza is particularly striking, with Owen likening the soldiers to "beggars," "hags," and "monsters."
The third stanza of the poem is the shortest and most powerful. In just six lines, Owen manages to convey the sense of despair felt by these soldiers. He describes their screams as being "shrill," and their cries as being "wailing." He also uses the metaphor of "the flares" to describe the explosive bursts of emotion experienced by the soldiers.
The Interpretation
"Mental Cases" is a powerful poem that delves into the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers in the First World War. Owen's use of vivid imagery and metaphor allows the reader to fully grasp the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the human psyche.
The first stanza of the poem describes the physical appearance of the soldiers. Owen uses words like "shadows" and "twisted" to convey the sense of disfigurement and deformity felt by these soldiers. He also speaks of their eyes as being "white," which suggests that they have lost their sense of humanity. This imagery is particularly effective, as it allows the reader to visualize the soldiers as being otherworldly and alien.
The second stanza of the poem explores the mental state of the soldiers. Owen uses words like "wrinkled," "shrunken," and "dried up" to convey the sense of emotional and psychological damage inflicted by war. The soldiers are depicted as being "unseeing," which suggests that they have lost touch with reality. The imagery used in this stanza is particularly striking, with Owen likening the soldiers to "beggars," "hags," and "monsters." This suggests that the soldiers have been reduced to a state of primal existence, stripped of their humanity.
The third stanza of the poem is the most powerful. In just six lines, Owen manages to convey the sense of despair felt by these soldiers. He describes their screams as being "shrill," and their cries as being "wailing." This suggests that they are in a state of intense emotional distress. He also uses the metaphor of "the flares" to describe the explosive bursts of emotion experienced by the soldiers. This metaphor is particularly effective, as it captures the sense of unpredictable and uncontrollable emotional outbursts experienced by those suffering from mental illness.
Overall, "Mental Cases" is a powerful poem that sheds light on the darker aspects of humanity. Owen's use of vivid imagery and metaphor allows the reader to fully grasp the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the human psyche. This poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and a sobering reminder of the cost of war.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Mental Cases" is a deeply moving poem that speaks to the human experience of war and mental illness. It is a testament to the power of language to convey emotion and connect people across time and space. Owen's use of vivid imagery and metaphor allows the reader to fully grasp the horrors of war and the toll it takes on the human psyche. This poem is not just an expression of Owen's own experiences, but a universal testament to the human cost of war. It is a reminder that we must never forget the sacrifices made by those who fought in World War I, and a call to action to work towards peace and understanding.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Mental Cases: A Hauntingly Beautiful Masterpiece by Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen, the renowned English poet, is known for his poignant and powerful war poetry. His works are a reflection of the horrors and atrocities of World War I, which he experienced firsthand as a soldier. One of his most hauntingly beautiful poems is Mental Cases, which vividly portrays the mental and emotional trauma suffered by soldiers during the war. In this article, we will delve into the depths of this masterpiece and explore its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem Mental Cases was written in 1918, during Owen's stay at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh, where he was being treated for shell shock. The poem is a reflection of his experiences and observations of the mental and emotional trauma suffered by soldiers during the war. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct theme and imagery.
The first stanza of the poem describes the physical and mental state of the soldiers. The opening lines of the poem, "Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight? / Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows," immediately set the tone of the poem. The soldiers are depicted as ghostly figures, sitting in a state of limbo, neither alive nor dead. The use of the word "purgatorial" suggests that they are in a state of purgatory, a place between heaven and hell, where they are being punished for their sins. The soldiers are described as "knock-kneed," "coughing like hags," and "bent double." These physical descriptions are a reflection of the physical toll that war has taken on their bodies. The soldiers are also described as "men whose minds the Dead have ravished." This line is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the soldiers have lost their sanity and are now living in a state of perpetual madness.
The second stanza of the poem explores the emotional trauma suffered by the soldiers. The opening lines of the stanza, "Memory fingers in their hair of murders, / Multitudinous murders they once witnessed," suggest that the soldiers are haunted by the memories of the atrocities they witnessed during the war. The use of the word "multitudinous" suggests that the soldiers have witnessed countless murders, which have left an indelible mark on their psyche. The soldiers are also described as "Wading sloughs of flesh these helpless wander," which is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the soldiers are wading through a sea of dead bodies, unable to escape the horrors of war. The stanza ends with the lines, "Thus their heads wear this hilarious, hideous, / Awful falseness of set-smiling corpses." These lines suggest that the soldiers have lost their ability to express their emotions and are now wearing a mask of false happiness, which is a reflection of the emotional trauma they have suffered.
The third and final stanza of the poem explores the theme of hopelessness and despair. The opening lines of the stanza, "Here are eyes that once were wet with tears, / Quiet eyes, nor mourn nor accuse," suggest that the soldiers have lost their ability to feel any emotion, including sadness and anger. The soldiers are described as "lost in the smothering dreams of things they did," which suggests that they are trapped in their memories and unable to escape the horrors of war. The stanza ends with the lines, "And no fears / Of Fear came yet upon them, nor the maniac yell of battle." These lines suggest that the soldiers have lost their ability to feel fear and are now living in a state of perpetual numbness.
The imagery used in Mental Cases is powerful and haunting. The soldiers are depicted as ghostly figures, sitting in a state of limbo, neither alive nor dead. The use of the word "purgatorial" suggests that they are in a state of purgatory, a place between heaven and hell, where they are being punished for their sins. The soldiers are also described as "men whose minds the Dead have ravished." This line is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the soldiers have lost their sanity and are now living in a state of perpetual madness. The soldiers are also described as "Wading sloughs of flesh these helpless wander," which is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the soldiers are wading through a sea of dead bodies, unable to escape the horrors of war.
The language used in Mental Cases is also powerful and evocative. The use of alliteration in the lines "knock-kneed," "coughing like hags," and "bent double" creates a sense of physical discomfort and pain. The use of the word "multitudinous" in the line "Memory fingers in their hair of murders, / Multitudinous murders they once witnessed," creates a sense of overwhelming horror and trauma. The use of the word "smothering" in the line "lost in the smothering dreams of things they did," creates a sense of suffocation and hopelessness.
In conclusion, Mental Cases is a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece that vividly portrays the mental and emotional trauma suffered by soldiers during World War I. The poem is a reflection of Wilfred Owen's experiences and observations of the horrors of war. The imagery and language used in the poem are powerful and evocative, creating a sense of overwhelming horror and trauma. Mental Cases is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by those who fought and died for their country.
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