Introduction
Found on page 1024 of the anthology Literature and Society, the poem “Does It Matter” depicts the effects of war on ex-soldiers in society, challenging society’s myopic view on warfare. Written during the aftermath of conflict by Siegfried Sassoon, the poem exhibits a profound anti-conflict sentiment by portraying the disastrous life of maimed veterans when they return home from combat. The poet emphasizes the futility of war throughout the poem by asking rhetorically, “Does It Matter?” (lines 1, 6, 11).
Ironically, he wonders why it is a problem for a soldier to lose his legs for society to treat him kindly. The words of the poet mimic the uncaring nature of society. Sassoon expresses dismay on how veterans who were injured and lost their body parts during the fighting are left to fend for themselves once they return home. He highlights the wrong and uncaring attitude of the society where people assume that a veteran can resume living normally after the devastating losses which the ex-soldiers incur at the war front.
According to society, the veteran will find his way and live happily after. The community interprets that it does not matter if the soldier is left behind since he can get employed and start a new and happy life as if nothing happened before. He describes how society’s uncaring nature propels the veterans to drink as a way of drowning their miseries after the war (line 12).
This satirical poem is set during the First World War when injured veterans returned after fighting for their country. The poem dramatizes the reality at home as perceived and experienced by the injured ex-soldiers who came expecting to be treated fairly by society to their dismay.
Siegfried Sassoon
Sassoon (1886-1967) was a soldier and an English poet who defended his country during WWI. His poems highlight the resultant tragedies and horrors of war and the devastating experiences. However, soldiers vehemently criticize the society or patriots who are indifferent to veterans and refuse to understand the aftermath of the fighting, especially for maimed ex-soldiers, “For they’ll know you’ve fought for your country” (line 14). Sassoon was born in September 1886 in Kent, Matfield, in a family of three sons.
The name Siegfried arose from the love his mother had for Wagner operas. He went to school at Marlborough, Clare College, and Cambridge University. As Sassoon grew to youthfulness, he developed a liking for scripting and cricket. He started writing in 1913 and had success with the first book, “The Daffodil Murderer.” However, he was intrigued by conflicts and was enlisted before the war started. Unfortunately, he broke his arm and it is until 1915 that he fully recovered.
Siegfried Sassoon was a brave soldier throughout his ranks, and he continued writing poems during the fights about the experience and people who died. Perhaps, the poem “Does It Matter” resonates with Sassoon’s experience and the loss of his brother, who died at war, buffeting him, but he survived and lived a normal happy life afterward.
In this poem, the speaker expresses the gratitude of being alive after the war and how others lost their body parts, unable to work physically. He advocates for those who became mad as a result of conflicts not to be judged. According to him, they were fighting for the welfare of their countries, “And people won’t say that you’re mad. / For they’ll know you’ve fought for your country” (lines 13-14).
Themes
The poem “Does It Matter” by Sassoon has two major themes. These are the results of warfare and ignorance and indifference of the society and even the immediate families of veterans. In this poem, the speaker, who was also a former soldier, conveys his frustrations and dismay with regards to the way wounded ex-servicemen are treated by the community and the immediate family after the war. The soldiers are wounded mentally, psychologically, and physically. This contrasts with the hype, celebration, and pomp portrayed by the same people when the soldiers are going to war.
The results of the war as a theme are highlighted throughout the poem. The verse explicitly presents different phases of war and their inherent resultant effects on society and the soldiers. The author starts by wondering why it should matter if one is amputated (line 1). The speaker shows the consequences of people engaging in warfare. Sassoon resents that it does not matter after one loses his legs as a result of the fights. He further asks in line 6 if it matters if one loses his sight at the battlefield. This theme tries to highlight the consequences of war in society.
Soldiers are bound to be injured and maimed for life, a scenario that seems not of great concern among civilians. Consequently, when they come home, they have permanent scars and impairment and gloomy memories as they finally understand the true meaning of peace, “turning their face to the light” (line 10). Therefore, the poet presents an understanding that war causes either physical and emotional damage or both.
Oblivious of the turmoil the militaries have undergone on the war front, the people back home are oblivious and uncaring for the soldiers’ welfare coming from the battlefield. This promotes the second theme of ignorance and indifference of society. This is evident from the collective behavior of the people towards the veterans.
When the wounded armed forces return home, society behaves friendly to them but does not bother to understand the horrors the soldiers underwent. This leaves ex-soldiers alone, and, as a result, they try to drown themselves in alcohol, yet still, society ignores them and believes that drinking is a regular thing. The poet highlights this in lines 12 and 13 by saying that the soldier can drink and forget, and people will not judge you to be mad. As a result of this ignorance and uncaring nature, society mentally harms the soldiers instead of helping them since they need the company and people to care for them, but not solitude.
Language and Style
The poet uses simple language and various narrative styles in the poem to pass his message. To start with, the use of rhetorical questions in the piece propels the reader to think and answer various issues raised by the author. The poet puts across questions without seeking answers, “DOES it matter?” (line 1, 6, 11). In addition, the author uses capital letters to emphasize to the reader that, indeed, it is prudent for society to show affection and concern to soldiers that return from war. This, combined with the rhetoric question, which does not need the reader to answer, points to the importance of the inquiry and the bitter situation that they have to ponder.
Furthermore, it is evident the poem explicates the use of irony. The use of “Does it matter” is ironic since the veterans are essential people, and they matter to society. The poet wants the audience to comprehend that ex-soldiers are very crucial people in society after returning from battlefields. Therefore, it is satirical for the author to pose the question that oscillates between the importance of veterans and the attention of people surrounding them. The irony is used to mock society on how they indifferently treat the veterans, yet these are the people who “fought for the peace of the country” (line 14). Therefore, the poet is frustrated by the uncaring nature of society to the veterans.
Imagery
The poet uses various narrative devices to express his dismay at the treatment of veterans in society. These stylistic devices include emblems and symbols as presented in the poem. In line 10, the soldier turns his face to see the light. This is a metaphor that means that finally, it has dawned on the veteran regarding the real meaning of peace and warfare. Again, it also stands for the ex-soldier’s sacrifices and what they mean to society back home.
Furthermore, the pit dreams (line 11) stand for the soldiers’ optimism and innocence that they lost at the war front. Besides, hunting is symbolically used in the poem “Does It Matter.” It reflects raw power and masculinity, a thing of the past for the maimed soldier. The veteran lacks this power since he lost his legs during the war. Again, it may symbolize the actual warfare and those who came back without losing anything.
Conclusion
In summation, the poem “Does it Matter?” shows the disgust of the author due to the mistreatment of the important people of society who are suffering because of their patriotism. The mood of the poem is harsh and unhappy due to the indifference from the surrounding community. The poet succeeds in passing his message through the use of symbols and narrative styles and emphasizing the results of warfare as a theme. Lastly, ignorance and indifference from the people who were left home develop another vivid picture regarding veterans’ predicament.
Work Cited
Sassoon, Siegfried. “Does It Matter.” Literature and Society: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction, edited by Annas, Pamela J. and Robert C. Rosen., Prentice-Hall Publishers, 2006, p. 1024.