Similarities Between Olive King And Sara Macnaughtan

“Every thought and event caused by the outbreak of the war came as a bitter and a mortal blow struck against the great conviction that was in my heart: the concept of permanent progress, of movement towards even greater happiness” (Englund, 46.) The outbreak of the war evoked a new society and drastically changed the participants’ lives. The beginning of the war was a bitter blow towards society and most participants within the entries were not pleased with the outbreak; it evoked responses and accelerated changes in each society represented. Happiness and progress are common themes within the entries. The continuation of their happiness would change and the progress of society is evident. While the participants endured the war; their societies

Many of the participants’ stories contained a common theme: personal fulfillment. Many women and those that enlisted in the war felt the need to give back by serving their country. The factors that influenced their response of personal fulfillment included their national identity, social status, and gender. An example of this can be seen in the stories of Olive King and Sara Macnaughtan. Due to their generational differences, their responses varied. However, the need to fulfill their lives and their duty to the war was evident. While both are women and had strong nationalism, their generational gap was what set them apart; their sense of personal fulfillment within the war was an important quality each of them possessed. Their duty to their country influenced their decisions heavily, instead of living at home and enduring the war, these two women thrust themselves into deprivation and a struggle. Another example of the duty to serve is displayed in Vincenzo D’Aquila’s entries; he was an American who felt it was his duty to serve in the Italian army because of his heritage. He was even laughed at in Piacenza because the other soldiers thought that he was a fool for putting himself into the deprivation and struggle. However, he did it for personal fulfillment and a duty that he felt to his previous national identity: “for the greatness of the Italian fatherland” (Englund, 145.) Not only did the American-Italian men have enthusiasm when saying this phrase while traveling, they believed in their previous national identity. This strong factor heavily influenced their decisions to enlist in the Italian army. The factors that influenced the different genders, nationalities, and social classes contributed to the common themes among the