Wilfred Owen Essay
When many think of war, they think of pride, glory, and victory; however this is far from the truth. Since the beginning of time, there has always been conflict, therefore there has always been a war to fight. Whether it has been a conflict within an individual country or conflict amongst different countries internationally, warfare is simply inevitable in the world we live in. Many envision war to be thrilling, exciting, and a chance to give service to one’s country; honorable. However, poet Wilfred Owen saw warfare for what it truly was; horrific. Known as a soldier and memorable poet from World War 1, Wilfred Owen dedicated his time to expose the reality of warfare through his writing during the “Red Dawn” of the 20th century due to his scarring experiences. Through Wilfred Owen’s collected works such as, “The Show,” “The Sentry,” and “Dulce et Decorum Est,” Owen was able to successfully expose the dramatic horrors of warfare, along with its effect on its surrounding landscapes, and how such horrors dehumanizes the nature of a soldier.
Born on March 1893 in Shropshire, England, “Wilfred Edward Salter Owen” was brought into this world with the potential of becoming one of history’s most remarkable poets. Although being born into a middle class family, Owen had a difficult time growing up due to the fact that his family experienced bankruptcy, and ultimately, Owen could not afford school. In fact, Owen even attempted to receive a scholarship as he became of age to the University of London, however he and his family were not able to afford this also. Owen first experiences with poetry began at a very young age, dating as early as 9 or 10 years old. Reading to his mother’s bible and writing was a daily hobby for young Owen, and specifically poetry became something he enjoyed very quickly. However, due to not being able to afford school, and with the upcoming of the “Great War” between Germany and Austria against the Triple Entente known as...