Analysis of Disabled by Wilfred Owen free essay sample

Out of all of Wilfred Owen’s infamous works, I have chosen the poem â€Å"Disabled†, which reflects the result of the decision of a youthful athlete to become a soldier in the war, as well as the pains and struggles, both physically and mentally, that he has to bear. In the first stanza, we are introduced to the physical disability of the soldier, â€Å"legless, sewn short at elbow†. Not only has he lost his legs and an arm, he has also lost the meaning of his life. He is insensitive to the sounds of youth and vigour from boys playing in the park, only feeling morose, instead of joy, as â€Å"voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn†. The words, â€Å"dark†, â€Å"shivered†, â€Å"ghastly† and â€Å"grey†, as shown in the first stanza, reveal the isolation of the soldier. This is a sharp contrast to the second stanza, where â€Å"Town used to swing so gay† and â€Å"glow-lamps budded in the light blue trees†, a sense of euphoria and romance is in the air. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Disabled by Wilfred Owen or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It seems to suggest that the halcyon days of youth and romance are nothing more than distant memories to him, gone forever, reducing him to a cripple, devoid of joy and happiness. In addition to the fact that he had become physically handicapped, he has been psychologically scarred as he will be shunned by women, â€Å"now he will never feel again how slim girls’ waists are, or how warm their subtle hands†. In the fourth stanza, when he was a young soccer player, â€Å"he liked a blood-smear down his leg, after the matches, carried shoulder-high†, showing us that injuries made him feel proud and confident, as he’d be celebrated by others. This is ironic as his injuries from war, the loss of his legs and arm, evoked only unhappiness in himself, making him feel outcast by everyone, especially women. Also, â€Å"smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years† shows that the soldier had been enlisted into the army at a young age. Fighting for his country in the war at nineteen years of age seems to have limited his youthful days and shortened his chance to fully enjoy the vitality of his life and budding romance, thus heightening his plight further. Wilfred Owen, having participated in a war, has adopted a highly cynical, disapproving attitude towards war. Through a few of his works, such as dulce et decorum est, we can see that he has taken a negative stance about war, believing that war is merely a lie, especially for young men who are blinded by the glory of fighting for their country. This perspective is very prevalent in this poem too. The soldier in this poem â€Å"thought of jeweled hilts for daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes; and care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears†, manipulated by the glory and pride of joining the war, blind to the death and bloodshed on the battlefield, as well as the trauma and scars after the war. The unfortunate truth about going to war seems to sink into the soldier in the last stanza, as â€Å"some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal†, when he realizes that the crowd’s reception about him participating in the war somehow is not as enthusiastic as it was when he scored goals in soccer. Finally, he decides to â€Å"do what things the rules consider wise† and â€Å"take whatever pity they may dole†, revealing the desperation and helplessness he is now experiencing. He, too, feels incomplete and no longer a man when â€Å"he noticed how the women’s eyes passed from him to the strong men that they were whole†. He is perceived as a cripple and less than a man by others instead of a well admired war hero. The degradation of the soldier or athlete to a cripple is complete when he says â€Å"how cold and late it is! Why don’t they come and put him to bed? Why don’t they come? †, a sign of his dependency on others.