War: Destroying Every Family in its Path
Is the honor of fighting in a war equivalent to a life? Stephen Crane wrote the poem "War is Kind" to expose the reality of war. Throughout the poem, readers read about three women who lost someone precious in their lives; a father, a husband, and a son. While Crane describes the tragedies of these men's death and their toll on each woman, the line "War is Kind" is repeated, giving a false security that war is noble and heroic. "War is Kind" was published in 1899, when women were not allowed to serve in the military, and men had societal pressure to serve in the military because it was seen as honorable and manly. In "War is Kind," Stephen Crane uses symbolism, imagery, and tone to criticize the government and its advocacy for war despite its negative effects on families. Crane uses a
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Crane writes, "Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind. Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind." (LNS 1-5). The tone throughout the entire poem is sarcastic, ironic, and criticizing. The phrase "War is kind" is restated over and over again throughout the entire poem. But readers keep reading things that don't seem kind at all. A wife losing her husband is not kind, and this embeds the idea that the truth of war is hidden from the citizens. Crane continues his tone by writing, "Mother whose heart hung humble as a button On the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind." (LNS 23-26). One of the most heartbreaking parts of this poem is when readers realize that every form of man has been taken away from someone. As stated before, a mother losing her child is not kind, and readers can infer that this man was very young, making the final line, "war is kind," almost seem taboo or