DISABLED

WILFRED OWEN

Main themes

Main themes

PTSD, poor treatment of those who were greatly affected by war, flashbacks/memories.

Overview

A soldier back from war who has been left physically and mentally disabled. The poem switches from the past to the present frequently throughout, which highlights the huge contrast between who he used to be and who he is now.

"Ghastly suit of grey"

The adjective "ghastly" implies he is now a ghost of his former self.

"Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn"

Simile. The verb "saddening" conflicts with the noun "hymn" because hymns are usually full of hope and positive religious connotations, whereas now it fills him with despair as he will never be able to be young and healthy like the boys playing outside.

"Voices of play and pleasure after day"

Repetition of "voices" on this line and the previous shows his isolation and PTSD.

"Dark" "glow-lamps" "light-blue" "dim"

Light and dark imagery - Dark imagery creates a contrast between the past (light) and present (dark), like a light in him has gone out.

"Before he threw away his knees"

Sarcastic/casual, almost like he is to blame.

"Like some queer disease"

Simile. "queer" means odd, which refers to his current condition.

"There was an artist silly for his face," "was younger than his youth"

Emphasises how young he was, and how the experiences he's been through have prematurely aged him.

"Now, he is old"

Ironic that he is now old despite being "younger than his youth" a year ago. Shows that war can be incredibly draining and how severely affected he is by it.

"He's lost his colour"

Lost a part of himself, possibly his soul.

"Poured it down shell holes till the veins ran dry," "And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race"

He has lost his former youth and vigour through his injuries, so much so that "half his lifetime" has passed as a result. "Hot race" refers to the battlefield, which suggests that he has lost all adrenaline that he previously had before the "race".

"One time he liked a bloodsmear down his leg,"

Shows masculinity, which was an important factor for men in Wilfred's time (early 1900s).

"After the matches carried shoulder-high."

Inferred that he was previously a good sportsman, which is an ironic contrast to where he is now.

"He wonders why."

Short sentence gives a sense of regret and hopelessness, and that he has been through so much that he has forgotten why he ever signed up to begin with. The short sentences also show how impulsive his decision was.

"Look a god in kilts."

Cocky attitude, also religious imagery. Ironic because now he is "legless".

"To please his Meg,"

Masculine viewpoint, shows patriarchy of society. The women would've wanted the men to enlist as they had become patriotic from propaganda.

"He asked to join. He didn't have to beg"

Caesura between two short sentences show how quickly the enlisting process went. The verb "beg" implies that the government just wanted soldiers; regardless of whether they were too young to join or not. Shows the coldness of authorities.

"Smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years."

Again the authorities were happy to enlist anyone who was healthy enough to go despite their youth. The verb "smiling" implies how easy the process went, and that the officers enlisting soldiers were happy with any new recruit.

"Germans he scarcely thought of, all their guilt, And Austria's, did not move him."

He went into war completely blind and uninformed, but knows about their "guilt", so he only knows that the Germans are bad people. Ignorance towards the causes of the war, and he is naïve.

"And no fears of Fear came yet."

Shows naïvety again, he didn't realise the true realities of war because they are censored heavily - he has likely gotten an image of the war from propaganda, which shows it as a glorious and patriotic experience only. This is probably why he has no "fears of Fear", because propaganda and patriotism pushed him to be brave and proud.

"He thought of jewelled hilts // For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes"

Believes that the war is full of glory and organisation, again influenced from propaganda. Stark contrast to how war truly is.

"And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;"

He is attracted to the idea of being a soldier, as shown by the connective "and", which shows excitement.

"Young recruits."

Hints at more naïvety on his part as he himself is a young recruit.

"Drafted out with drums and cheers."

Feels overtaken by pride and happiness. Stark contrast to how people treat him now he has returned.

"Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal."

Doesn't compare to the days where he was a footballer, the crowds are now cheering half-heartedly. The capitalisation of the noun "Goal" shows that he was on target to achieving what he wanted in life before the war.

"Only a solemn man who brought him fruits"

May have been his job to do so, so the fact that it was something he had to do rather than what he wanted to do shows the isolation of him now he is disabled. The noun "fruits" could refer to the results of his sacrifice (metaphor, symbolic.)

"Thanked him; and then inquired about his soul."

Shows the little understanding people had of psychological conditions. The shortness of "thanked him" implies a lack of sincerity.

"Do what things the rules consider wise,"

Unsympathetic system of doing things. It also seems forced and shows how little understanding there was; they follow protocol and hope things turn out right for the patient.

"And take whatever pity they may dole."

The man in the poem was offered comfort, but in a routinely way, so it lacks empathy.

"He noticed how the women's eyes // Passed from him to the strong men that were whole."

Popular propaganda image, so women would be more drawn to them as women were very patriotic during the wartimes. It also shows they were repulsed by him, so there's more lack of empathy and understanding of the true nature of war.

"How cold and late it is!"

Foreshadowing death.

"Why don't they come // And put him into bed? Why don't they come?"

Rhetorical question shows that there is no answer from anyone, nobody wants to put him into bed because they are confused and repulsed by him. This emphasises how lonely he is now he has returned from war, stark contrast to how he used to be.