Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen & World War I

Abstract

The First World War (1914-1918) was one of the most atrocious events in human history in which millions of people were killed and injured. Young men were widely recruited through a very strong persuasive propaganda, which portrayed the war as an opportunity for young men to defend their country and raise its banner high in the battlefields, prove their bravery and heroism, enjoy the adventure of action and taste the delight of battles. Military parades were usually held in the streets of towns where crowds, including young beautiful girls, stood along, hailing the new recruits who felt high pride in their uniform amidst the cheering applause of the happy audience. Newspapers and magazines used to publish so many stories of heroism about brave soldiers who fought the enemy single-handed and achieved great victories with photographs of some posing soldiers. Posters  were hung everywhere in the towns and cities encouraging young men to join the war, and many poets at home wrote on the war, its just cause and the bravery of fighters. But once these men arrived at the battlefields and lived in the trenches that they opened their eyes to the truth of war and its sufferings and miseries. Of these disillusioned men were Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen.