What Does The Sniper Symbolize

The Sniper: The Patriotic Peril

War is a trying time for many people, but for the Sniper, it is an opportunity. The Sniper is the main character of Liam O’Flaherty’s story “The Sniper.” The Sniper is thinking ahead, is familiar with death, and does not allow his emotions to get in the way. All of these attributes are the ingredients for a perfect murder. Firstly, the Sniper can think ahead, allowing him to quickly change plans if something goes amiss. The Sniper’s arm is impaired, so with quick thinking, he makes a plan, “The Sniper lay still for a long time nursing his wounded arm and planning escape. He must not be found in the morning [....] The Sniper must kill the enemy, and he cannot use his rifle. He had only a revolver to do it” (O'Flaherty 2). Even though the Sniper is

His weapon of choice, “his rifle" is lost along with his arm, leaving him with more barriers to his plan. He knows that the odds are not in his favour, so he makes a plan to use the revolver. Knowing that he has to be gone by morning, or the enemy will come and kill him. He can make a split-second plan not only to kill the enemy soldier but also to save his own life. Secondly, the Sniper is used for death, giving him more experience with the thought. The Sniper hides behind a parapet hiding from an enemy and waits it out. The author says that ”his face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death”(O’Faherty 1). As a soldier at war, the Sniper has seen death. Even though he is a “student” who was likely drafted into this war. His face is also “thin and ascetic,” meaning that the war has been taking a toll on his body, but is also self-disciplined. He is described as having a “cold gleam of the fanatic” suggesting that he is excited about the prospect of war, allowing him to be a better killer. Furthermore, having an emotional breakdown