Lisa Tran

Jimenez
CP English 1
02 October 2013

The Unmerciful Civil War

The significance of war is greater than open armed conflict between two or more parties,

nations, or states, "war." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Oct. 2013. War is

brutal and can incite feelings of guilt, grief, and depression. The experience in war can change

someone physically and mentally. The short stories The Sniper by Liam O Flaherly and

Cranes, by Hwang Sunwon demonstrate a similar theme: war can change people.

The protagonist, Songsam, returns to his village at the border of thirty-eighth parallel

where he encounters his childhood friend, Tokchae. While Songsam escorts Tokchae to

Choontae, he feels a rush of anger and shouts, So how many have you killed? (O Flaherty

274) Tokchae professes his innocence and Songsam is able to settle their differences. After

finding out Tokchaes father is bedridden and Shorty is pregnant; he is in a dilemma to whether

emancipate Tokchae. Songsam reminisce about the time Tokchae helps him with freeing the

cranes. He learns that bonds cannot be broken because of war. The resolution of the story

certifies that friendship can overcome war. Friendship is strong and can stand any force that may

try to penetrate through it.

The main character, the Sniper is on a rooftop near O Connell Bridge and his duty is to

kill the enemy. In war, its either kill or be killed. He is constantly alert for bullets trying to

snatch away his life. The Sniper tricks the enemy by pretending to die. He then fires his rifle at

the other sniper. The Sniper, out of curiosity have the urge to identify the enemy he killed. He
discovers that the dead body is his brother. The theme of the moving story is: war reduces human

beings to mere objects. Like the characters in the story, in war, there is no names or faces just

targets. War have no boundaries, age, or gender.

In the short story Cranes by Hwang Sunwon and The Sniper, by Liam O Flaherty

conveys that war can change people. Songsam changed his opinion towards Tokchae and

discharge him where they set free the cranes as kids. The Sniper, is joyous that he kill the other

sniper until he discovers its his brother. When youre on the battlefield, you dont consider

others, you continue fighting to the bitter end. Moreover, at any moment, your life can be seized

from you. War is nonsensical and unmerciful.