War Bride

Micah Renton Year 10

Nina Murdoch’s “War Bride” is a war poem that raises questions about the governments greed in sending young men to go and fight in war. By considering the texts use of poetic devices such as metaphors, imagery, and enjambment, one might dominantly read the text, viewing the old men as avaricious and horrible. Murdoch implies the greed of the old men robs women of marriage and children, and thus their future.

Throughout the text, Murdoch applies metaphors to portray the government or old men who send young men to war as avaricious and horrible. This representation is initially shaped by their description in the second stanza: “It is the old men with their crafty eyes / And greedy fingers and their feeble lungs / Make Mischief in the world and are called wise / And bring war on us with their garrulous tongues.” The characterisation of these “old men” in the visual imagery of “crafty eyes,” “greedy fingers,” “feeble lungs,” and “garrulous tongues,” implies these men are cunning and avaricious who seek war for money. By adopting a dominant reading style, one might view war as a futile endeavor, initiated by men in power (those who serve high up in government positions) who do not have themselves have to fight. Murdoch uses more imagery in the second half of the poem to portrays the horrible reality of war that these old men seem to ignore. The poet’s perspective of war as gruesome and violent is shaped by her use of visual and olfactory imagery: “And turn fair meadows into reeking tombs / And passionate bridegrooms into bloodied clay.” The olfactory imagery created in the word “reeking” which suggests a horrible stench and the visual imagery in the phrase “bloodied clay” both portrays how war turns beautiful or ‘fair’ meadows into graveyards, where bridegrooms rest lifelessly like “clay”. A dominant reading invites us to view this as a horrible circumstance and that the old men are horrendous for ignoring it. Thus, Murdoch’s application of metaphors and imagery portrays the violent and inhumane reality of war that these greedy old men of a higher class value their profits and status and disregard human life.

Furthermore, Murdoch’s use of imagery and enjambment portrays the impact the greed of the old men have on the wives of soldiers. The melancholic tone in stanza four is shaped by their enjambed syntax in the lines: “The old men grown so old they have forgot / The touch of mouth on mouth in the still of night / the tenderness that wedded lovers wot.” The continuation of the sentence through the lines creates a melancholic tone. The old men seem to disregard or “forget” the love shared between couples in a kiss and moments of intimacy. The wives of soldiers can’t hold their husbands as the government has sent them off to war. This can be dominantly read by viewing the old men as loveless and uncaring, for ignoring the love between wedded lovers, as if it were significant. Additionally, Murdoch’s use of visual imagery portrays the unfortunate future of the wives, which these old men are preventing. The use of visual imagery coupled with enjambment creates a beautiful scene in the future denied: “The dreams that dwell in the eyes of a young bride / The secret beauty of things said and done / The hope of children coming, and the pride / Of little homes and gardens in the sun.” The continuation of the sentence through the stanza, creates a harmonious pace in the visual imagery created by the words, “little homes and gardens in the sun.” These brides picture a warm and secure future with their husbands, having children and spending time with their families in their houses and gardens while basking in the sun. The denial of this can be dominantly read as Murdoch’s feelings of resentment towards the old men who are robbing wives and husbands of the “pride” of having a family. Therefore, Murdoch’s use of imagery and enjambment portrays how, by sending soldiers off to war, the government or “old men” are depriving wives of love and a family.

Nina Murdoch’s “War Bride” successfully questions the governments greed in sending young men to their deaths. By considering the texts use of poetic devices such as metaphors, imagery, and enjambment, one might dominantly read the text, viewing the old men as greedy and selfish for robbing War Brides of marriage and children, and a happy future.

A persuasive piece