The War Prayer Rhetorical Analysis

We can further see in lines like this, “God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells” (336). As the story ends we finally see the horrible destructive outcome of war the volunteers await. The irony is that even if victorious, many of their own must die in the process. For the first time we see the other side to the initial romantic view of the soldiers. The messenger eventually says what the preacher refuses to admit. “Make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with blood of their wounded feet” (336). The biggest contradiction is within these lines from the messenger, “help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead” (336). Now the families and soldiers may see that their enemy also has their own “patriots.” The importance of this line is that they are now seeing their enemy as equals, who both pray and desire the same thing.

They do not wish for a simple victory without fighting, but plea for horrible things to come to their opponents. In these lines from the messenger we get Twain’s personal view of imperialism. It seems as if Twain is the only one that realizes that everybody thinks that God is in favor for only their side. Due to the controversial aspects of this story, The War Prayer does not fall in line with the other national literature pieces that were read and discussed in class, which is why it is an excellent piece to add to the curriculum. It is its own unique version of national literature that focuses more on the issues of war rather than national