'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 jaws that slob their relish,
Baring teeth that leer like skulls' tongues wicked?
Stroke on stroke of pain, -- but what slow panic,
Gouged these chasms round their fretted sockets?
Ever from their hair and through their hand 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 bloodsmear; 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
Mental Cases by Wilfred Owen: A Poem That Leaves a Mark
Wilfred Owen was a British poet who served in World War I and wrote about his experience of the atrocities of war. His poetry is marked by its graphic and vivid descriptions of the horrors of war, and Mental Cases is no exception. This poem is a powerful and moving portrayal of the mental and physical scars that soldiers carry with them long after the war is over.
The Poem
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come: "Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight?" The use of the word "twilight" suggests a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the speaker is not quite sure what he is seeing. The repetition of the word "these" also emphasizes the otherness of the soldiers, as if they are not quite human.
The poem then goes on to describe the soldiers in graphic detail: "These are men whose minds the Dead have ravished. Memory fingers in their hair of murders." The use of the word "ravished" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the soldiers' minds have been violated and destroyed by the horrors of war. The image of "Memory fingers in their hair of murders" is also striking, as it suggests that the soldiers are haunted by the memories of the atrocities they have witnessed.
The poem then moves on to describe the physical scars of war: "Multitudinous murders they once witnessed / All evil done before their eyes." The use of the word "multitudinous" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the soldiers have seen so many murders that they have lost count. The phrase "All evil done before their eyes" is also powerful, as it suggests that the soldiers have seen the worst of humanity and are now unable to escape its effects.
The poem concludes with a plea for the soldiers to be remembered: "Let us remember them, and say: / 'Their sacrifice was not in vain.'" The use of the word "sacrifice" is significant, as it suggests that the soldiers gave up their lives for a higher purpose. The phrase "not in vain" is also important, as it suggests that the soldiers' suffering and sacrifice should not be forgotten.
Interpretation
Mental Cases is a poem that is both powerful and disturbing. It paints a vivid picture of the mental and physical scars that soldiers carry with them long after the war is over. The soldiers in the poem are portrayed as otherworldly and alien, as if their experiences have made them no longer quite human. The use of vivid imagery and repetition is particularly effective, as it emphasizes the horror and brutality of war.
The poem can also be seen as a critique of war itself. Owen was a soldier himself, and his poetry often reflects his disillusionment with the war and its effects on those who fought in it. The soldiers in the poem are portrayed as victims of the war, their minds and bodies destroyed by the violence and brutality they have witnessed.
The final lines of the poem, with their plea to remember the soldiers and their sacrifice, can also be seen as a call to action. Owen is urging his readers to remember the horrors of war and to work towards a world where such atrocities are not allowed to happen again.
Conclusion
Mental Cases is a powerful and moving poem that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Its vivid imagery and stark portrayal of the effects of war make it a powerful critique of the violence and brutality of war. Owen's plea to remember the soldiers and their sacrifice is a call to action, urging us to work towards a world where such horrors are not allowed to happen again. This poem is a reminder of the human cost of war, and a testament to the power of poetry to capture and convey the most profound and devastating of human experiences.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Mental Cases: A Haunting Portrayal of War's Psychological Impact
Wilfred Owen's "Mental Cases" is a haunting poem that delves into the psychological impact of war on soldiers. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the mental and emotional trauma that soldiers experience during and after war. Owen's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of horror and despair that is difficult to shake off. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
Themes
The central theme of "Mental Cases" is the psychological impact of war on soldiers. Owen portrays the soldiers as "mental cases" who have been traumatized by the horrors of war. The soldiers are depicted as "purgatorial shadows" who are trapped in a state of perpetual suffering. They are haunted by the memories of the atrocities they have witnessed and the guilt of having survived while their comrades perished.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the dehumanizing effect of war. The soldiers are stripped of their humanity and reduced to mere "things" that are discarded and forgotten once they are no longer useful to the war effort. Owen describes the soldiers as "drooping tongues from jaws that slob their relish" and "batter of guns and shatter of flying muscles." The soldiers are no longer individuals with names and personalities, but rather anonymous victims of war.
Structure
"Mental Cases" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. However, Owen deviates from the traditional sonnet structure by using irregular rhyme and meter. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza consisting of eight lines and the second stanza consisting of six lines. The irregular structure of the poem reflects the chaotic and fragmented nature of the soldiers' experiences.
Literary Devices
Owen uses a variety of literary devices to convey the horror and despair of war. One of the most powerful devices he uses is imagery. Owen's descriptions of the soldiers are vivid and graphic, creating a sense of horror and disgust in the reader. For example, he describes the soldiers as "drooping tongues from jaws that slob their relish" and "batter of guns and shatter of flying muscles." These images create a sense of physical and emotional pain that is difficult to ignore.
Another literary device that Owen uses is repetition. The repetition of the phrase "these are men whose minds the Dead have ravished" emphasizes the central theme of the poem and creates a sense of despair and hopelessness. The repetition of the phrase "who are these?" also emphasizes the dehumanizing effect of war and the soldiers' loss of identity.
Owen also uses alliteration and assonance to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. For example, he uses the alliteration of "drooping tongues" and the assonance of "slob their relish" to create a sense of disgust and horror.
Analysis
The first stanza of the poem describes the soldiers as "purgatorial shadows" who are trapped in a state of perpetual suffering. Owen uses vivid imagery to describe the soldiers' physical and emotional pain, emphasizing the horror and despair of war. The repetition of the phrase "these are men whose minds the Dead have ravished" emphasizes the central theme of the poem and creates a sense of hopelessness.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the dehumanizing effect of war. Owen describes the soldiers as "things" that are discarded and forgotten once they are no longer useful to the war effort. The repetition of the phrase "who are these?" emphasizes the soldiers' loss of identity and the dehumanizing effect of war.
Overall, "Mental Cases" is a powerful and haunting poem that portrays the psychological impact of war on soldiers. Owen's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and literary devices creates a sense of horror and despair that is difficult to shake off. The poem is a reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of addressing the psychological needs of soldiers who have experienced trauma.
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