War is Kind by Stephen Crane Response

               War is far from kind. Stephen Crane writes ironically, trying to convey his message of the stupidity of war. He is upset with the loss of life that comes from war. He does not simply bash war. He cleverly mentions horrible scenarios from war and responds to them with a sarcastic attitude. He effectively, declares his opinion without “declaring” it at all.

                He also is angry about the reasons we fight wars. The “Flag of the regiment” that tells the soldiers of the “virtue of slaughter” and “the excellence of killing,” is the reason they fight. They fight because the old men who start the war, tell them to. The young soldiers die for it. Not unlike Erich Remarque’s All Quiet On the Western Front, where Paul realizes the false validity of their cause. He eventually grows tired of the war, because he discovers the falseness of it’s so called “fruits.” War is never good.

                Both authors fought in war and they both hated the reasons they fought. Crane wrote a sly poem, promoting his idea and Remarque wrote a very controversial book that out right bashed the war he fought in. Their purpose is simple. They both just want the world to stop fighting and understand peace.