The poem “Disabled” by Wilfred Owen depicts a young British soldier who suffered the loss of his legs during the First World War.
The soldier is portrayed as sympathetic by Owen, as he is left isolated and changed by the horrors of war. This ostracization stems from his impulsive decision to join the army as an innocent and naive teenager.
The poet’s use of punctuation, specifically frequent commas and semi colons, in phrases like “that’s why; and maybe, too, to please his Meg…” reveals the poet’s uncertainty as he attempts to recall the exact reasons why the protagonist joined the war. The poet also includes the mention of “maybe, too, to please his Meg…” to further emphasize this hesitation.
” and “someone said he’d look good in kilts”. The use of ambiguous words such as “maybe” and “someone” adds to the vagueness of his motive. Since the readers are fully aware that catastrophes such as injuries and deaths occur in battlefields, the fact that the soldier joined the war without a logical reason indicates that the decision had been completely spontaneous. As the majority of men would have joined the war out of patriotism, the soldier’s ambiguous or non-existent motive clearly accentuates that he was incapable of making judicious decisions for himself.
The soldier viewed the war as an opportunity to achieve pride, love, and respect; the poet indicates this by mentioning that he envisioned “jeweled hilts for daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes; and care of arms…” The frequent use of semicolons reflects the soldier’s endless enthusiasm for joining the war. The alliteration in “smart salutes” adds a musical quality, and the imagery of “jeweled hilts” conjures a captivating image. This suggests that the soldier had only considered the superficial aspects of war, indicating his innocence, as readers often respond with horror rather than excitement to the violence of war.
His boundless aspirations and courage reveal that he resembled typical young individuals with ambitions. This evokes the readers’ compassion, as he was evidently an ordinary teenager in search of guidance, and was merely misdirected by the society’s distorted portrayal of war. Furthermore, the readers feel profound sympathy for the soldier as the society disregards and shuns him after he lost his legs in the war. This contrast is effectively portrayed by the poet’s interchanging use of past tense and present tense when depicting people’s attitude towards him before and after the war.
Before the war, the protagonist was esteemed and embraced by society. The alliteration in his statement, “girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim,” produces a delightful sound, emphasizing his charm towards many girls. The phrase “carried shoulder-high” indicates the protagonist’s superiority and prominence within society. Nevertheless, society, including the girls, shuns the protagonist upon his return from war as a cripple.
The poet depicts the soldier’s complete alienation, as he remarks that the soldier will never again experience the slimness of girls’ waists or the warmth of their delicate hands. The enjambment employed illustrates the soldier’s yearning for a past in which girls were still willing to approach him. Furthermore, the girls now “touch him like a queer disease,” with the simile conveying the notion that he is perceived as strange or repulsive.
The soldier is seen as a symbol of disease, causing others to avoid him due to the belief that his suffering is contagious. As a result, he is no longer accepted or recognized in society. Owen describes him as wearing a disturbing grey outfit, using sibilance and alliteration to enhance the sense of horror in the atmosphere.
This passage also highlights the protagonist’s ghost-like presence, suggesting that he is both invisible and disliked by society. His grey attire further accentuates the bleak atmosphere, symbolizing his diminishing importance and vitality. Furthermore, the poet exposes the absurdity of society by stating that while some cheer for him, it is not with the same enthusiasm as cheering for a goal in a football game. This implies that society places more value on athletic achievements than acknowledging the sacrifice of a man who lost his legs in war.
People’s lack of acceptance towards differences demonstrates the close-mindedness of society. It also reveals the hypocrisy of society, which had enthusiastically encouraged the soldier to enlist in the war by only highlighting the appealing aspects of war. Consequently, the soldier is portrayed as a casualty of an unforgiving society, eliciting sympathy from the readers. Moreover, Owen evokes sympathy by depicting how the war has transformed the soldier from a youthful teenager into an aged man, both mentally and physically.
The poet illustrates the contrast between the protagonist’s life before and after the war by juxtaposing the two. Before the war, the protagonist was evidently lively and full of energy, as emphasized through vivid imagery. Words like “glow-lamps” and “light blue” evoke a sense of warmth, while choices such as “swing,” “glanced,” and “carried” suggest constant movement and the protagonist’s previous popularity. Additionally, the use of enjambment contributes to the fast-paced and vibrant tone of the poem.
The soldier’s state after the war is contrasted with the imagery used to describe him as an old man. Darkness symbolizes the lack of motivation and hope in his life. The phrase “waiting for dark” signifies that he has nothing to anticipate except death. The word “waiting” highlights his immobility and the futility of improving his life.
The poet describes the soldier as wearing a ghastly grey suit, which symbolizes sorrow and sadness. The repetition of the “s” sound in the phrase creates a frightening atmosphere, hinting at the soldier’s future of loneliness and insignificance. The use of words like “wheeled chair” and “shivered” portrays the soldier as aged and physically weak. By stating that sleep “mothered” the boys away from him, the poet implies that the soldier is unable to take care of himself both physically and mentally, and relies entirely on others for support.
The soldier is portrayed as someone without support or dependence, evoking sympathy from readers. Furthermore, the poet highlights the soldier’s advanced age and distinct mindset. The soldier’s actions revolve around reflecting on his life, suggesting an impending end. The poet effectively portrays the soldier’s remorse for missed opportunities, expressed through the phrase “He thought he’d better join (the war).”
He wonders why. The dramatic pause created by the caesura gives a stronger impact, expressing the wounded soldier’s profound remorse towards joining the war. Additionally, the soldier desperately clings onto his memories and tries to remain a young boy, realizing that his choice of joining the war was irreversible. His denial towards the harsh reality is depicted through rhetorical questions and repetition as he asks, “Why don’t they come and put him into bed? Why don’t they come?” Despite being aware that girls are no longer interested in him, he pretends to be ignorant of the significant changes in his life.
Although the soldier lacks any formal occasion to attend, he is wearing a “suit of grey,” implying his desperate effort to cling to his former teenage self, when he believed that only happiness lay ahead. This also serves as a painful reminder that his life can never return to its former state. As a result of his impulsive choice to join the war, Owen presents the soldier as highly sympathetic, as he not only lost his legs but also his place in society.
Everyone makes mistakes in life, particularly during their youth when impulsivity is more common. Though the consequences are typically not as severe as what a soldier must endure, readers perceive him as extremely unfortunate and merely a victim of a harsh and deceitful society.
