War In Literature Essay, Research Paper
War In Literature
In war soldiers go through traumatizing experiences.
Some go insane in battle, those who live through the war
often suffer from post war syndrome. They wonder daily
whether they are going to live or die, and how their wife
and family are. Many often hope for a cushy one in the
leg, to go home. The Sergeant s Private Madhouse , The
Second Variety , and Goodbye to all That have many similar
war aspects but as technology evolved many new war
experiences were interwoven.
The Sergeants Private Madhouse by Stephen Cuane takes
place during the Spanish-American War, Goodbye to All That
is during World War I, and The Second Variety is set in
the future. Technological advances went from simple guns to
killer robots. Like in The Second Variety , people were
killed by the continent with nuclear weapons and the
survivors had to deal with robots who s only purpose is to
kill the living. Things weren t like in The Sergeants
Private Madhouse where the biggest fear was a bayonet
charges and simple firearm fire. Or like in Goodbye to All
That where small explosives and sniper rifles were commonly
used. There was also the introduction of poison gas at this
time.
Even though the weapons evolved and wars became more
like an early death. Most soldiers suffered traumatizing
effects, whether it be from hypothermia or witnessing your
brother s death. The Sergeants Private Madhouse had one
soldier loose it during battle. He sang children s songs
while his troop tried to defend a surprise attack. In
Goodbye to all That men were so afraid they d try to get a
cushy shot to the arm or leg so they could go home. Even
in The Second Variety the creators of the robotic soldiers
cursed their creation.
Soldiers rarely did what their mind thought right.
Rather they stayed on the battle field for one reason, the
love for their country. The soldiers in The Sergeant s
Private Madhouse stayed close and fought like a team rather
than worked like everyone for them self. And the damage in
The Second Variety and Goodbye to all That was obvious
and the soldiers ignored their instinct to flee.
The most common thing with war is the death. Whole
continents were wiped out in The Second Variety . Many
deaths were experienced in close range, some were friends
and brothers. Some of the soldiers who tried to get cushy
ones for early relief from the war got it, only in a casket.
Just imagine a well aimed grenade in a trench of people.
The Russians had little chance against the claws who used
their number to their advantage and their ability to
evolve.
It s a wonder why war even exists. However they will
always exists as long as a man has problems with things. I
just hope that World War III doesn t happen while I m
around. I really hope that the prediction for the future,
in The Second Variety is not accurate. I do not want
humans to become extinct and replaced by robots.