War and Conflict - Essay Example

War and Conflict Wars have their own deep realities which are characterized by individual interests,Kingdom policies, and conspiracies. The complexities of war are well explained in several historical and literary texts which aim to bring the lesser known realities into spotlight. The concept of war and conflict is thematically expressed in Henry V where the previously rash prince claims the throne after the death of father in a chaotic environment. As Henry V assumes the responsibilities of a King, further issues await him including rebuilding the trust of his people and settling disagreements with his neighbors. As he declares war with France, Henry V finds himself in the midst of conspiracies where his enemies try to ensure his absolute defeat against the French. The whole play excellently represents the environment in which wars occur and the realities behind wars including conspiracies, interests of individuals and kingdoms, and so on. As Man realizes, the realities of war are actually far from what it seems from a distance. As armies celebrate their victories and historians praise leaders, the reality is that most wars are marked by indifferent brutalities which often go unreported or ignored. War settings have also been very well explained in the poetry Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen who explains the conditions in which World War I was fought and how the war impacted millions of lives as they struggled between death and life. Wartimes are often symbolized by unjust and forced recruitment of civilians into the armed forces and The Conscript by Wilfred Gibson reflects the period of war where this process occurred and how these conscripts were involuntarily pushed to the threats of war. The plot of Henry V, written by William Shakespeare, addresses a very central issue of power, politics, and war in 15th century England. The story is set in a time when England was going through severe political upheaval as a result of power struggle and civil wars. Henry IV had just died and following his death, the young prince Henry V had claimed the throne to become the king. In between several harsh civil wars, the people of England are left distressed and dissatisfied with the regime. In an attempt to build trust with his people, Henry V tries to come to terms with his rash past which he spent with a bad company of thieves and alcoholics. Amidst all these attempts, Henry V also has to attend to several of his responsibilities as a King where he has to decide about his relations with his neighbors, particularly France. The situation is intensified as Henry V claims large areas of land occupied by the French due to his French roots in the Royal family. When the ruler of France, called Dauphin, sends an insulting message to Henry V, he decides to declare a war on France in order to occupy what he claimed was rightfully his land (I.ii.371-373). However, as expected the war does not turn out to be easy for Henry V as he tries to gather his own army through the support of his noblemen and clergy. The play is quite relevant in understanding the onsets of wars and how the decision made by a single ruling person, that is the King, impacts the lives of the common people. Here, it is useful to note that Henry V was claiming French lands due to his personal interests of occupying lands which he felt was rightfully his by old land laws. In his personal interest, he goes on to wage a war against France which itself was quite powerful during the time whereas England was caught up in internal civil wars and a chaotic environment. Apart from the ongoing conspiracies, Henry V is also caught up with a serious task: motivating his army to fight. The theme of both Dulce et Decorum Est and The Conscript demonstrate how forcibly recruited men serving in the army had a sense of lacking purpose. As wars went on and the armies suffered heavy casualties, the army often had a sense of irony where they were ready to sacrifice their lives however the whole notion seemed to be pointless due to the involved interests. Wilfred Owen describes the vain attempts of fighting to protect the honor of one’s nation as an “old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori” (“Dulce et decorum est”, 27-28) which seems meaningless and beyond reason to the soldiers. However, later on Henry V is successful in rising above all the conspiracies against him to motivate his army by giving powerful and arousing speeches. Henry V, prior to becoming a king is described as a wild adolescent who spent his time in company of drunken men and thieves. However soon after his father’s death, Henry V has to assume the responsibilities of a king. In the process of forgetting his past rashness and gaining the trust of his people at times of severe political unrest, he distances himself from his former friends as he rises to the throne. Among his various former friends, Scrope gets involved in a conspiracy against Henry V to kill him in a hidden motive (II.ii.716). Scrope along with other of his traitor comrades work on the side of the French and plot to kill Henry V however the three traitors are caught and executed despite pleas for mercy (II.ii.685). Again, Henry V is successful in crushing conspiracies against him. However, more problems await Henry V as the English army sets sail to attack France where chances of winning seem dim due to the low morale of his army. Wilfrid Gibson describes the condition of conscripts who were forcibly made to serve in the army against their wishes. In his poetry The Conscript explains how civilians unwillingly recruited into the army face troubles as they struggle between life and death after being injured to live a life of disability (6). The poetry also points out how the medical team remains indifferent to the injuries of the conscript soldiers as if heavy casualties were a usual occurrence. In Henry V, victory against the French seems difficult however a stirring speech by Henry V motivates his army to fight bravely and be victorious. Unlike post-war accounts of wars which celebrate and praise armies for their victories and cover the hardships of war, Henry V, The Conscript, and Dulce et Decorum Est demonstrate the true faces of war and conflict. In reality, wars are much more horrendous and the armies may be fighting for reasons beyond the “Dulce et Decorum Est” notion. Thus, wars may involve several conflicting interests that may imply greater wealth, land, and power. The theme of Henry V reflects the realities of war as Henry V wages a war on France to rule on areas spanning from England to France. Henry V claims the French lands due to his roots in the French Royal family however to the French, this move threaten their power in the region. In his endeavor to reclaim his land, Henry V starts a campaign in which the already dissatisfied common people have to participate. And in wars, soldiers cannot escape its harsh realities including torture, casualties, and death. Yet soldiers have to fight for the sake of their nation even though the war may be fought for interests that do not justify their participation in the war. The glory is described as “desperate” where the soldiers are trapped in the irony of warfare and to serve the interests of the higher ups (“Dulce et Decorum Est”, 26). Amidst a bitter war against the French, Henry V also executes his former friends from Boar’s Head Tavern after Scrope plots a conspiracy and Nim and Bardolph are caught looting in the war. This reflects the environment of war even friendships may betray and reject affiliation. England had been going through a time of great confusion as Henry V rose to power yet he decided not to let go of his claims for French lands which lead him to go to war against them. Even though the people were already dissatisfied with the chaotic conditions internally, the decision made by Henry V leaves the people no choice but to prepare for war. Although the King himself is surrounded by traitors and enemy funded conspirators, Henry V succeeds in winning the support of his people who decide to fight for him. His army fights in uncertain conditions in France although it succeeds to win wars against the French. After he disguises as a common soldier he realizes the difficulties of the soldiers where they are fighting a war which they have been thrust into. Though the English army had won previous battles against the French, it is clear that fighting the French was not easy and it was indeed miraculous to have won against the French in their own lands. A similar idea is communicated in Dulce et Decorum Est where even though soldiers are fighting for their King or nation, nevertheless forget to see any meaning in fighting a savage war. Works Cited Gibson, Wilfrid. “The Conscript.” In Khaki, 1918. Owen, Wilfred. “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Poems. London: Viking Press, 1921. Print. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Ed. Taylor, Gary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1982. Print. Read More