Themes: Warfare

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Several crucial aspects of the story illustrate the peculiar nature of warfare. The sniper experiences a variety of emotions that might seem strange to those who haven't faced battle. At the beginning of the story, while on watch, the sniper feels “too excited to eat.” Just before he takes aim at the enemy sniper, his “hand trembled with eagerness.” After successfully hitting his target, he “uttered a cry of joy.” O'Flaherty uses positive, anticipatory language to convey the sniper's reactions to confronting and defeating his adversary. In the context of war, killing another person is seen as a victory; soldiers, including the sniper, find themselves in a situation where it's kill or be killed.

By the story's end, the protagonist has experienced a wide range of emotions due to his actions. After killing his enemy, the sniper feels regret for his actions. When the “lust of battle died in him,” his body responds with shuddering, sweating, and chattering teeth. His mind struggles to accept reality as “he began to gibber to himself, cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing everybody.” However, these feelings of remorse are fleeting. He throws down his revolver, which accidentally fires, shocking him back to reality. He then regains his composure by taking a drink of whiskey. Laughing, the sniper climbs down from the rooftop to rejoin his comrades, ready to continue his duties as a soldier. By the end, his emotions have come full circle, shifting from excitement to anxiety to remorse and back to excitement.

Expert Q&A

In "The Sniper," what does the phrase "the lust of battle died in him" mean?

The phrase "the lust of battle died in him" means the sniper undergoes a profound change after killing his target. Initially driven by a fanatical desire to complete his mission, he feels remorse and regret upon seeing his enemy fall. This moment signifies his disillusionment with war and the loss of his previous fervor and beliefs.

In The Sniper, how did the sniper's mood change after his enemy's fall?

The sniper’s mood changes from his fighting spirit to remorse for killing the enemy. He does not rejoice in the death of his foe, but instead feels regret and horror that another human being is dead.

Justify the title of the short story "The Sniper."

The title "The Sniper" aptly encapsulates the story's focus on the intense conflict and psychological transformation experienced by a sniper during the Irish Civil War. The narrative centers on the sniper's life-and-death struggle, highlighting his evolution from a student to a fanatic. The ambiguous title could refer to either the protagonist or his enemy, underscoring the dehumanizing effects of war, where individuals become nameless and interchangeable in their roles as combatants.

In "The Sniper" by O'Flaherty, how is the sniper portrayed as a duty-bound soldier?

The sniper is portrayed as a duty-bound soldier through his relentless focus on his mission to eliminate the enemy sniper, knowing his own life depends on it. Despite feeling remorse and revulsion after killing his target, his actions are driven by necessity rather than fanaticism. His emotional turmoil, including guilt and self-recrimination, underscores his role as a soldier compelled to fulfill his duty amidst the harsh realities of war.

The futility of wars as depicted in "The Sniper"

The futility of wars in "The Sniper" is depicted through the senseless violence and tragic irony experienced by the protagonist. The story highlights the dehumanizing effects of war, culminating in the sniper's realization that he has killed his own brother, underscoring the devastating personal costs and the ultimate pointlessness of such conflicts.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Previous

Themes: Civil War

Next

Themes: Survival and Isolation

Loading...