'Disabled' by Wilfred Owen
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He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of play and pleasure after day,
Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.
About this time Town used to swing so gay
When glow-lamps budded in the light-blue trees
And girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim,
-- In the old times, before he threw away his knees.
Now he will never feel again how slim
Girls' waists are, or how warm their subtle hands,
All of them touch him like some queer disease.
There was an artist silly for his face,
For it was younger than his youth, last year.
Now he is old; his back will never brace;
He's lost his colour very far from here,
Poured it down shell-holes till the veins ran dry,
And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race,
And leap of purple spurted from his thigh.
One time he liked a bloodsmear down his leg,
After the matches carried shoulder-high.
It was after football, when he'd drunk a peg,
He thought he'd better join. He wonders why . . .
Someone had said he'd look a god in kilts.
That's why; and maybe, too, to please his Meg,
Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts,
He asked to join. He didn't have to beg;
Smiling they wrote his lie; aged nineteen years.
Germans he scarcely thought of; and no fears
Of Fear came yet. He thought of jewelled hilts
For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes;
And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;
Esprit de corps; and hints for young recruits.
And soon, he was drafted out with drums and cheers.
Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal.
Only a solemn man who brought him fruits
Thanked him; and then inquired about his soul.
Now, he will spend a few sick years in Institutes,
And do what things the rules consider wise,
And take whatever pity they may dole.
To-night he noticed how the women's eyes
Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.
How cold and late it is! Why don't they come
And put him into bed? Why don't they come?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Disabled by Wilfred Owen: A Critical and Interpretive Analysis
Wilfred Owen is one of the most renowned poets of the First World War. His poetry reflects the anguish, horror, and disillusionment of the soldiers who fought in the trenches. Disabled is one of his most poignant poems, written in 1917, and it explores the psychological and emotional impact of war on a young soldier who has lost his limbs. This essay provides a critical and interpretive analysis of Disabled, examining its themes, structure, language, use of imagery, and symbolism.
Themes
The central theme of Disabled is the devastating consequences of war on young soldiers who were lured into enlisting by the romanticized notions of valor, patriotism, and adventure. The poem describes the physical, emotional, and psychological trauma suffered by the protagonist, a young man who has lost his legs, who is now confined to a wheelchair and who faces an uncertain future. He is tormented by memories of his past life, his former athletic prowess, his lost youth, and his current isolation and loneliness. He is no longer the hero he once was, but rather a pitiful figure, as he watches life go by from his window.
The poem also explores the themes of regret, disillusionment, and futility. The soldier's decision to enlist and go to war has resulted in his physical and emotional disfigurement. He now regrets his impulsive decision, and he is disillusioned by the grim reality of war. The poem suggests that war is a futile and destructive activity that leaves behind a trail of human suffering and misery.
Structure
Disabled consists of seven stanzas, with varying numbers of lines per stanza. The poem begins with a description of the physical disabilities suffered by the protagonist and then moves on to describe his former life and his memories of the past. The poem ends with a powerful and poignant image of the soldier watching as the women walk away from him, leaving him behind, alone.
The structure of the poem reflects the soldier's fragmented and disjointed state of mind. The poem is not strictly linear but rather a series of disconnected images and memories that flow together, creating a collage of the soldier's experience. The use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of fragmentation and dislocation, reflecting the soldier's shattered state of mind.
Language
The language of Disabled is simple and direct but evocative. The use of sensory imagery, such as sight, sound, touch, and smell, creates a vivid and poignant picture of the soldier's experience. The language is also connotative, with words and phrases that suggest different meanings and emotions beyond their literal sense.
The use of figurative language, such as metaphor and simile, is also prominent in the poem. The soldier's former athletic prowess is described as "jockeys" and "players," which suggests a sense of heroism and accomplishment. The "ghastly suit of grey" that the soldier wears symbolizes his physical and emotional disfigurement and the loss of his former identity. The "voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn" conveys a sense of nostalgia and regret for the lost innocence of youth.
Imagery
The imagery in Disabled is powerful and evocative, creating a vivid picture of the soldier's experience. The opening stanza, for instance, describes the soldier's physical disabilities in graphic detail, using visual and tactile imagery:
He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of play and pleasure after day,
Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.
The use of the word "ghastly" to describe the soldier's suit conveys a sense of horror and disgust at his disfigurement. The use of the phrase "sewn short at elbow" emphasizes the soldier's loss of his legs and suggests the brutality of war. The image of the "voices of boys" ringing like a hymn is poignant, suggesting the soldier's loss of innocence and youth, and the fact that these voices are now "mothered from him" emphasizes his isolation and loneliness.
Symbolism
The use of symbolism in Disabled is subtle but effective. The most prominent symbol in the poem is the "ghastly suit of grey" that the soldier wears. This suit symbolizes the soldier's physical and emotional disfigurement, his loss of identity, and his former life. The use of the word "ghastly" suggests the horror and disgust that the soldier feels at his condition.
The women who walk away from the soldier at the end of the poem also symbolize the loss of his former life and his isolation and loneliness. The fact that they are "walking" away from him emphasizes his inability to join them and his sense of being left behind.
Conclusion
Disabled is a powerful and poignant poem that reflects the devastating consequences of war on young soldiers. The poem explores themes of regret, disillusionment, and futility, and it uses vivid and evocative imagery and symbolism to create a powerful and poignant picture of the soldier's experience. The structure of the poem reflects the soldier's fragmented and disjointed state of mind, and the language is simple but connotative, creating a sense of depth and complexity. Overall, Disabled is a masterpiece of war poetry that captures the horror and tragedy of war in a way that is both universal and timeless.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Disabled by Wilfred Owen: A Heartbreaking Tale of War and Its Consequences
Wilfred Owen's poem "Disabled" is a poignant and heart-wrenching portrayal of the devastating effects of war on young soldiers. The poem explores the physical, emotional, and psychological trauma that a soldier experiences after being wounded in battle and the subsequent loss of his identity and sense of purpose. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Owen conveys the sense of loss and despair that the soldier feels, as well as the indifference and callousness of society towards those who have sacrificed so much for their country.
The poem begins with a description of the soldier's physical condition, as he sits in a wheelchair, "legless, sewn short at elbow." The use of the word "sewn" is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of mutilation and disfigurement, as if the soldier's body has been irreparably damaged by the war. The fact that he is "legless" and has lost an arm also highlights the physical toll that war takes on soldiers, and the sense of helplessness and vulnerability that they experience.
The soldier's physical condition is contrasted with his former self, as Owen describes him as a "gay" and "handsome" young man, who was once the "town's pride." The use of the word "gay" is particularly poignant, as it suggests a sense of joy and happiness that has been lost forever. The fact that he was once the "town's pride" also highlights the sense of community and belonging that the soldier has lost, as well as the admiration and respect that he once enjoyed.
The soldier's loss of identity and purpose is also explored in the poem, as Owen describes how he "threw away his knees" and "lost his colour very far from here." The use of the word "threw" suggests a sense of recklessness and impulsiveness, as if the soldier did not fully understand the consequences of his actions. The fact that he "lost his colour" also highlights the sense of isolation and detachment that he feels, as if he no longer belongs to the world around him.
The soldier's sense of isolation and detachment is further emphasized in the second stanza, as Owen describes how he "sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark." The use of the word "waiting" suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance, as if the soldier has given up hope of ever regaining his former life. The fact that he is "waiting for dark" also highlights the sense of loneliness and despair that he feels, as if he is trapped in a world of darkness and despair.
The soldier's loss of identity and purpose is also explored in the second stanza, as Owen describes how he "shivered in his ghastly suit of grey." The use of the word "ghastly" suggests a sense of horror and disgust, as if the soldier's uniform is a reminder of the horrors of war. The fact that it is a "suit of grey" also highlights the sense of anonymity and uniformity that the soldier feels, as if he is just another faceless victim of war.
The soldier's sense of isolation and detachment is further emphasized in the third stanza, as Owen describes how he "thought of all the happy times he had before the war." The use of the word "thought" suggests a sense of nostalgia and longing, as if the soldier is trying to hold on to his former life. The fact that he is thinking of "happy times" also highlights the sense of loss and despair that he feels, as if he can never regain the happiness and joy that he once knew.
The soldier's loss of identity and purpose is also explored in the third stanza, as Owen describes how he "wore a scarlet coat, not blood, but wine." The use of the word "scarlet" suggests a sense of pride and honor, as if the soldier is trying to hold on to his former identity. The fact that it is "not blood, but wine" also highlights the sense of detachment and unreality that the soldier feels, as if he is living in a world of illusions and dreams.
The soldier's sense of isolation and detachment is further emphasized in the final stanza, as Owen describes how he "sat in his wheelchair, waiting for dark." The repetition of this phrase highlights the sense of hopelessness and despair that the soldier feels, as if he is trapped in a never-ending cycle of darkness and despair. The fact that he is "waiting" also suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance, as if he has given up hope of ever regaining his former life.
In conclusion, Wilfred Owen's poem "Disabled" is a powerful and moving portrayal of the devastating effects of war on young soldiers. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Owen conveys the sense of loss and despair that the soldier feels, as well as the indifference and callousness of society towards those who have sacrificed so much for their country. The poem is a reminder of the human cost of war, and the need to remember and honor those who have given so much for their country.
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