ey describe what is happening with the injured soldier. “And it’s War! ‘Orderly, hold his hand. I’m not going to hurt you, so don’t be afraid. A ricochet! God! What a mess it has made! ‘ And it’s War! and a very unhealthy trade. ” These lines show that the doctor is trying to help the injured man, but when he realises that the wound is one he cannot heal he is absolutely horrified at the sight of it.
It also shows that the doctor is trying to remain as calm as possible and he is trying to keep the patient in that same state. The last line again shows the gruesomeness and vanity of war. It shows how war is absolutely useless and that there are other ways in which problems can be resolved. It shows that war is an “unhealthy trade” between countries and a very cunning and sly one. It portrays war as a business matter between countries and shows how it is a dangerous game being played between those who are part of it.
I think this phrase portrays the act of war in a very explicit way and it just goes to show that war is waged solely for world domination and the conquering of countries through a trade that involves killing and murder. The last stanza of the poem describes the death of the soldier and the sympathy that the doctor feels for the soldier’s family. The second line shows that the soldier is going through the different stages of death, “A sigh as the chloroform drips”. This line shows that the wound which at first was seen as a mere injury had turned into a deadly wound.
The next few lines of the poem show that the soldier is now slowly dying. “… A cut, and the face has turned grey… ” This shows that the soldier is dead and there are no chances of his survival. The little flickering of life that was left has now gone. The last few lines of the stanza show the sympathy that is felt by the doctor for the soldier’s family. “And it’s War! ‘Orderly, take It out. It’s hard for his child, and it’s rough on his wife. There might have been – sooner – a chance for his life But it’s War! And – Orderly, clean this knife'”
The first line shows the worthlessness of the man by addressing him as “It”. It shows how war can devalue and destroy the respect that has been reserved for man. It shows how war can change the life of any human being. It also shows how once the doctor was willing to heal the wound but when the man has died the doctor is now telling his orderly to get rid of the body. The rest of the stanza shows how the doctor sympathises for the man’s family. It also shows the value of time by saying that if the man had come sooner there might have been a “chance for his life”.
The last line shows that the doctor must be really busy with his work that he doesn’t have time to sympathise for too long, as he abruptly tells his orderly to clean the surgical knife. The poem is set into three stanzas. Each stanza has twelve lines. The rhyme scheme for the stanzas is ABABCDCDEFFF. The rhyme scheme has been added for extra effect to the poem and more emotion to the poem. I think the last three lines of the poem have the same rhyme scheme because they are the spoken words of the doctor and also because they contain deep messages within them.
The poet has used repetition within the poem. In every stanza he has the word “War”. I think he has done this so that his object and purpose for writing the poem can get across to the reader. The poem shows how slight injuries can become deathly and deadly. It shows the conditions in which the soldiers were treated or many of the times, died. The poem keeps the man unnamed to show that this kind of thing could happen to anybody and at any time. It also explores the terrifying scenes that the doctors and orderlies saw while trying to treat the injured that it became almost impossible to treat them.
I think the poem has been written in praise and sympathy for those who were either fighting or helping on the front line. I think it is an excellent way of describing those things that are not revealed to the public. It is kept hidden from the people and probably will be kept hidden until someone disclo