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"The Sniper" places a strong emphasis on the evils of war, and yet paints a vivid image of mankind's qualities and their society. Employing the technique of describing one particular sniper to symbolism a general subject, readers are able to gain a deep insight into the evils of war. In this story, the assembly of setting, contrasting characters and themes of fanaticism and division of loyalties are vital to conveying the horror of war. On the other hand, The Sniper also discusses the power of war, depicting it as the decider of life and death for men. Its force is further emphasised when neighbours are turned into enemies under wars influence.
The setting of the story, Dublin, has been written in such a way that only highly negative images are conveyed to portray evil. From the beginning to the end, Dublin is seen as an insecure, fearful, and vulnerable town abundant with weapons of war and associated horror. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness instantly transmits a sense of mystery, weariness and fear. This negative image is strengthened by Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically like dogs barking on lone farm. Dublin can be almost compared to a person, who has struggled under stress and is now defeated.
The city is empty, apart from the roar of machine guns and rifles which have converted the city not a place of misery and barrenness. The only other indication of scene is a parapet, which is a barricade. All these images of isolation, domination of war and misery are intended to show the detrimental impacts that war can bring, and at the same time illustrate the evils of war. Characters in The Sniper are limited in terms of type and variety to show that war brings out only people who possesses a passion to kill and have the courage to be killed. The story focuses on only one sniper and we, the readers use the incident from his point of view. The only characters that are mentioned are the sniper, another sniper, his enemy and an old woman.
Apart from the old woman, all other characters are men who represent figures of war and are present to do nothing but kill. They are seekers of death and bring about a web of deaths. The manner in which these men reign over the city by killing, and that ordinary dwellers are imprisoned within their homes for fear of death shows the evil impacts of war. The theme of death and violence is another important segment in indicating the evils of war. Each individual is engaged in killing their enemies and struggling for their own lives.
As seen through the view of the sniper, the people's lives are centred around killing and death. Lifestyle, even to the extent of lighting a cigarette becomes risky and could lead to death. Citizens are forced to be locked in their homes for fear of being shot. The incident, where an old woman is hot by the sniper, who is then injured by his enemy is an example of war's destructive nature. The loss of innocent victims simply because war defines killing strongly shows the evils of war. War appoints evil to the second theme, that of fanaticism.
In "The Sniper" the constant threatening environment fuels the obsessions of fighting for its people. The sniper, described as "the face of a student V thin and ascetic" contrasts with the description "his eyes had the cold gleam of a fanatic the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death. " The writer shows an attitude of pity towards the student as his possibly fortunate career has now been turned into an engagement in war. In turn, the evils of war are expressed as it turns ordinary people into hunters of death. Lastly, the division of loyalties because of war is a major contribution to conveying the evils of war. The fact that "The Sniper" takes place in one city, one country demonstrates that war is a cause for separation of fellow communities. It uses a slight difference in beliefs to turn neighbors against one another, snipers endlessly hunting one another, as well as destructing an entire city.
The death of one and injury of another all occurring in a small thicket and a parapet illustrates the division of loyalties well, thus conveying strong impressions of evil in war. On the other hand, "The Sniper" also pictures war as a source of power that has total control over mankind behaviours. War changes concepts of peace, cooperation and harmony into a battle to kill. The influence of war brings human consciences to demolition, as even neighbours have the incentive to kill one another due to a slight religious difference.
Its power is highlighted as it without any logical order, decides the fate of every person. For example, the old woman, an informer, is shot dead whilst the sniper is only injured. Ye they act for the same purpose, that is, to destruct their enemy. Thus war is a source of power that controls mankind's concepts and behaviors. "The sniper" is a story that uses one small incident to address the evils of war very strongly. It visits many ideas associated with war, such as those of deaths, fanaticism, division of loyalties as well as creating a horrific atmosphere. At the same time, "The Sniper" makes a powerful impression of war and portrays it as an immense influence on men's conscience.
Thus two views of war are expressed here, although the story leans heavily on the evils of war.
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