Sophia Chan 10N2
How does Wifred Owen evoke sympathy from the readers in the poem Disabled Sympathy depends on oneself, it varies through different people. The poem Disabled engages its readers with its emotion and depth. Being filled with sadness and loss, one may find themselves sympathizing with the character. At first glance, some readers may view the character’s misfortunes as pitiful and tragic, immediately sympathizing with him. Yet as the poem undergoes more depth, some may view his actions as foolish or ignorant, creating an immediate contrast in perspective of the readers. In this essay I will be exploring how Owen uses techniques, structure and ideas in Disabled to sustain feelings of sympathy. Owen evokes sympathy through the use of simile. This emphasizes the character’s dehumanization and alienation, being viewed by others as “some queer disease”. Owen emphasizes the extremity of the character’s condition which suggests that the people’s reactions were filled with revolt and utmost disgust. It is as if they were to touch him, they too would be contaminated. Owen uses the word “queer” to further emphasize the character’s dehumanization as something strange and abnormal, something that is not human, something that does not belong on earth. Hence, resulting in the harsh rejections from the nurses. Furthermore, the readers feel great pity for the character’s apparent undeserved misfortunes, which is revealed through the use of harsh juxtapositions towards the character. The readers themselves understand the dread of disease for they have surely gone through that pain and suffering before. Thus, the readers may have feelings of sympathy towards the character. However, some readers may actually empathize with the character instead of sympathizing. This increases the strength of the bonds between character and reader. Although, through the use of enjambment, the readers sympathy/empathy towards the character can quickly be lost. It is revealed that the...