However, his experiences made him realize that there was much more to warfare than he initially thought. He probably realized that the war was caused by a conflict of interests and that it was essentially meant to settle a difference between northerners and southerners, as it was not necessarily intended to assist African-Americans. He acknowledged the conceit present in American individuals and realized that he had a particularly small role in the Civil War environment.
Bierce's sarcasm is supported by the absurdness concerning the battle of Shiloh and he emphasizes this through relating to the reason for which this conflict holds this name. While most people are likely to express lack of support concerning an individual who associates concepts such as humor and warfare, Bierce appears to want to mock them through his story. He apparently believes that only someone who experiences a conflict from a first-hand point-of-view should be capable of relating to it. Readers are provided with explicit imagery as Bierce describes conditions on the battle field. However, the writer cannot help to intervene at times and to sarcastically relate to horrible events as if he is simply listing a series of monotonous events that a group of people went through. "Their clothing was half burnt away -- their hair and beard entirely; the rain had come too late to save their nails" (Bierce 14).
Bierce speaks about the suffering that these people endured as if they were not actually hurt in the process and emphasizes the importance of their nails in an attempt to put across his apparent indifference regarding the scene. Although he rarely discuses this, Bierce is aware that everyone involved in the conflict knew what to expect from such a war and he is himself able to understand that death is not a stranger in such an environment. He feels sorry for the individuals who did not live to see the end of the war but also feels that he needs to criticize them for their actions. "I cannot catalogue the charms of these gallant gentlemen who had got what they enlisted for" (Bierce 14).
Bierce virtually uses sarcasm in order to have his readers understand the actual gravity of the events that he endured. While it might seem that he deals with things irresponsibly, he is aware that readers are going to understand his actual intention and that they are eventually going to receive the exact message that he wanted to send: war is very absurd and anyone who attempts to relate to it by employing a serious attitude is insane.
The reality of the war is emphasized throughout Bierce's writing and it seems that he was dedicated to provide readers with a shocking account with the purpose of having them understand the magnitude of the conflict. The American writer was not only inclined to overstate his experience, as he apparently felt that words were not enough to describe his feelings at the time of the battle of Shiloh. Surely, it is difficult to determine whether or not one can transcribe the actual feelings that he or she endures upon seeing hundreds of people dying before him or her. Bierce was acquainted with the harsh nature of warfare and considered that it was very important for him to attempt to instill the same feelings that he felt in the persons reading his story. The events that he went through influenced him in developing...
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