Irony: A Scene in the MRT train on Youth Day

I was heading towards Jurong to discuss my project work. It was a bright morning, the sun was warm, the wind brought a caressing touch on my tender skin. Deep in the MRT carriage, I took out a book to read. All of a sudden, a shrill scream pierce my ears. It was from an Indian woman. My smooth and tranquiling morning had been disrupted by a rough stone.

The elderly was pushing a wheelchair in which his husband is sitting in. The old elderly man in the wheelchair looks fragile and confused and his right leg seemed sprained. His wife was chiding a Chinese teenage boy slightly older than me. "You are an evil person!! How can you hit his leg?? Can't you see he is sick? Do you know he has a stroke? And his leg is injured. You are such a cruel person! F*** You!!" Everyone in the carriage was staring at the young man and the Indian woman. It seemed that the commotion began when the boy accidentally bumping into the old man in the wheelchair. The young man was peering around at the train embarrassedly and trying to explain to the Indian lady that he did not actually did that on purpose. "F*** off! Cruel person. You did that on purpose didn't you? Didn't you? You tell me! Look at me! Can't you see he is a sick man?? ****! Get away from here!" I was pretty shocked by her use of vulgarities and her sharp piercing accusation. She seemed so old but do not look fragile at all. The dispute continued and finally, after a series of screams and curses from the old lady, she alighted at the next stop from which she boarded.

I feel that the elderly lady was over-reacting. I understand that her husband meant a lot for her, but I felt that she failed to comprehend the fact that the teenage boy has no intention of harming an elderly man (sitting on a wheelchair). The elderly woman is probably slightly senile and therefore displayed such an outrage towards the innocent boy. If I were the boy, I would have moved to some other places in the MRT carriage. This would probably stop her from screaming and disturbing other commuters.

The first irony I noticed is that the teenage boy has probably suffered a most painful ordeal just in the morning of youth day. A day when he is supposed to enjoy, relax and have fun. This is a situational irony.

The second irony I noticed is that, the elderly woman seemed to be doing more harm and damage to her vulnerable husband with her wild screaming. On the other hand, the teenage boy had only touched the man gently. This is also a situational irony.

The last irony I noticed from the scene is from the woman's words. Initially, she told the boy to "**** off". After that she told the boy to look at her in her eyes and answer her question. And when the boy answered her question from his point-of-view, the woman doesn't seem to hear him and argued ferociously. This is a verbal irony.

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen: My personal thoughts

I enjoy reading the use of figurative and colourful languages which emphasizes the war scene. However creative and innovative the imagery and words are, I feel that the writer has successfully managed to illicit the sense of sympathy for those who have suffered in war.

Dulce et Decorum Est truly lead me to imagine about the horrifying and unbearable ordeals which transformed into nightmares for the soldiers. I have never experienced a war which is as close to me as this poem. It pains me to "see" the soldiers struggling to carry on with their journey. Despite the fatigue, wounds and hunger they were probably experiencing then, these boys could not stop until they reach a safe destination. After seeing the descriptions of their pitiful state, I thought the poem would further describe about how they have managed to arrive at their safety camps. Instead, the poem talks about how the confused and exhausted young soldiers had accidentally let loose a poison gas bomb and how the soldiers had frantically put on their gas masks. Unfortunately, things did not turn out so well when one of their comrades was killed by the poisonous gas.

This scene puts me into thinking about the scene of a real war. I realise that danger was imminent all the time during war. No matter if the soldiers are away from the main battlefield, or in their camps. Anything could happen and anyone could have caused an accident easily. One moment, your comrade and best friend could be standing beside you and chatting with you. The next moment, there is a chaotic scene and...your friend is gone. Such things do happen in war all the time and I believe many of these young soldiers in those times were actually not prepared to leave their closest companions in the army.

At the second half of Dulce et Decorum Est, it describes the scene of the writer having nightmare and being unable to shake away the haunting scene of his comrade's pale motionless face. Honestly, I would not even bear to see my comrade die in front of me. I mean, no one would hope for the worst, would they? And when their friends die, the scene often clings onto their minds endearingly until they retire or pass away. The descriptions in the poem makes me sympathise with the soldier who was suffering from these nightmares. I truly hope I would not have to suffer from these ordeals in future (touchwood) because I am someone who cherishes my friends and would not bear to leave them. (:D) I believe this portion of the poem would definitely have thrown a warning at those who were considering to join the army.

Overall, I feel that this poem is rather sad, but conveys a very strong message--that is to encourage others not to join war. The title of the poem: Dulce et Decorum Est means Sweet and Fitting (to die for one's country). It is probably a sarcastic remark and aims to satirized the government for encouraging so many boys to join the army. Wilfred Owen is probably one of the victims who has suffered the ordeals of war. The overall tone and emotions of the poem are hatred and serene atmosphere. It probably aims to illicit the audience's feelings.