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Literature often serves as a mirror reflecting the complex emotions and experiences of individuals during times of conflict. Luigi Pirandello's short story "War" delves into the profound impact of war on parents through the lens of its main characters. This essay explores the themes and character dynamics in "War," highlighting how Pirandello masterfully captures the tumultuous emotions and coping mechanisms of parents faced with the harsh reality of war.
The story unfolds in Europe, within the confines of a stuffy and smoke-filled second-class train carriage.
The main characters, a bulky woman who appears almost shapeless and a fat, red-faced man, among others, engage in a conversation that revolves around their children's involvement in the war and their right to grieve for them. The setting itself symbolizes the claustrophobia and discomfort that war brings, mirroring the emotional confinement experienced by the characters.
Pirandello skillfully juxtaposes the initial illusion of peace with the subsequent chaos and despair in the story.
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The opening paragraph presents a seemingly tranquil scene, akin to the period before a loved one is deployed to war. Life is calm and undisturbed, mirroring the sense of normalcy experienced by parents before their sons are called to the frontlines. However, Pirandello swiftly transitions to the second paragraph, where disorder and despair dominate the narrative.
This abrupt shift parallels the emotional turbulence that parents undergo when their sons go off to war. The serene moments before deployment are shattered by the grim reality of conflict, echoing the chaos that ensues when the parents are confronted with the news of their children's involvement in the war.
Once the initial shock of loss permeates their lives, the parents adopt masks of stoic bravado to shield themselves from their true emotions.
Pirandello eloquently captures this phenomenon when one character declares, "Everyone should stop crying; everyone should laugh as I do…or at least thank God - as I do - because my son, before dying, sent me a message saying that he was dying satisfied at having ended his life in the best way he could have wished. That is why, as you see, I do not even wear mourning…" These masks of false strength are donned as a defense mechanism, a way to cope with the overwhelming grief that war inflicts upon parents.
However, as the story progresses, Pirandello reveals the fragility of these facades. In a poignant moment, the woman, still reeling from the initial shock of loss, turns to the fat man and asks, "Then…is your son really dead?" This question pierces through the layers of denial and bravado, exposing the raw, unfiltered reality of their circumstances. The fat man, too, is stripped of his protective mask, and he is forced to grapple with the irrevocable loss of his son.
Ultimately, Pirandello's "War" underscores the enduring nature of the parental bond. Regardless of the rhetoric surrounding a son's duty to himself and his country, parents never truly let go of their role as protectors and caregivers. They mourn the loss of their children, a loss that transcends patriotic ideals and societal expectations. Pirandello's narrative serves as a poignant reminder that the emotional toll of war extends far beyond the battlefield, reaching the depths of the human soul.
Literature has the remarkable ability to illuminate the multifaceted aspects of the human experience, especially during times of conflict. Luigi Pirandello's "War" masterfully navigates the intricate terrain of parental emotions in the face of war. Through its characters and narrative, the story reveals the initial illusion of peace, the adoption of masks of bravado, and the inevitable confrontation with reality. Ultimately, "War" serves as a powerful testament to the enduring bond between parents and their children, a bond that transcends the chaos and devastation of war, leaving an indelible mark on the human heart.
The Impact of War on Parents in Luigi Pirandello's "War". (2016, Aug 03). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/war-by-luigi-pirandello-essay
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