Page 2: Hallucinations and Loss of Hope
The second page of the Exposure Wilfred Owen analysis pdf delves deeper into the psychological impact of war on the soldiers. It explores themes of hallucination, loss of hope, and the blurring of reality.
Owen describes a brief moment of respite where the soldiers hallucinate about their former lives:
Quote: "For hours the innocent mice rejoice: the house is theirs;"
This line represents a fleeting escape from the harsh realities of war, where the soldiers imagine themselves as "innocent mice" returning to the safety and comfort of home.
Highlight: The poem uses the metaphor of closed doors to signify the end of this hallucination and the soldiers' return to the grim reality of war.
The Exposure poem context becomes clearer as Owen explores the loss of faith and hope among the soldiers:
Quote: "Since we believe not otherwise can kind fires burn; / Nor ever suns smile true on child, or field, or fruit."
These lines suggest that the soldiers' experiences have fundamentally altered their perception of the world, making it difficult for them to imagine warmth or happiness existing anywhere.
The poem concludes with a powerful statement about the impact of war on love and hope:
Quote: "For God's invincible spring our love is made afraid;"
This line encapsulates the theme of how war has corrupted even the most fundamental human emotions and experiences.
The Exposure poem themes of suffering, futility, and the psychological toll of war are powerfully reinforced throughout this final section, leaving readers with a profound sense of the true cost of conflict.