Dreamers By Siegfried Sassoon

 Dreamers

By Siegfried Sassoon

Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land,

Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows.   

In the great hour of destiny they stand,

Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows.   

Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win   

Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives.

Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin

They think of firelit homes, clean beds and wives.

I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats,

And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain,   

Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats,

And mocked by hopeless longing to regain   

Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats,

And going to the office in the train.

Summary,

"Dreamers" by Siegfried Sassoon is a poignant poem that reflects on the tragic consequences of war, particularly World War I. In the poem, Sassoon critiques the notion of glorifying war and the soldiers who die in it, emphasizing the harsh reality they face.

The poem opens with a description of soldiers who are no longer alive, referring to them as "dreamers" who are now beyond the reach of war's horrors. These soldiers, who once believed in noble causes and ideals, are now dead, lying in their graves. The term "dreamers" contrasts with the brutal reality of war, implying that these men were naive or deluded in their beliefs about honor and glory.

Sassoon then contrasts their idealism with the tragic truth of their deaths. The soldiers' lives were cut short in the battlefield, and their dreams were shattered by the brutality of war. The poem suggests that their sacrifice is futile, as it was made in pursuit of meaningless or misguided ideals. The soldiers, who once dreamed of glory and heroism, are now forgotten, their deaths merely a part of the grim history of war.

The poem highlights the loss of youth, hope, and innocence, as these soldiers were robbed of their potential futures. Through the use of vivid, mournful imagery, Sassoon conveys the devastating impact of war, emphasizing the disconnect between the ideals soldiers were taught to believe in and the harsh reality they faced.

Themes,

The Futility of War: The poem critiques the glorification of war, suggesting that the soldiers who died in battle did so for ideals that ultimately proved meaningless. Sassoon highlights the pointless loss of life and the destruction of youth, implying that the soldiers' sacrifices were in vain.

The Loss of Innocence and Youth: The soldiers are portrayed as "dreamers" who, in their youth, believed in the honor and glory of war. The theme emphasizes how war destroys innocence, cutting short the lives of young men who never had the chance to fulfill their dreams or aspirations.

The Disillusionment of Soldiers: The poem expresses the disillusionment that soldiers experience as they confront the brutal reality of war. The soldiers' dreams of heroism and glory are shattered by the horrors of the battlefield, leaving them to die without any recognition of the ideals they once held.

The Tragic Consequences of War: Sassoon emphasizes the tragic aftermath of war, focusing not just on the deaths of soldiers but on the irreparable damage done to their futures. The theme is centered on the idea that war takes away more than just lives; it robs individuals of their potential and aspirations.

The Contrast Between Idealism and Reality: The poem contrasts the soldiers' youthful idealism with the grim, harsh reality of war. It suggests that the soldiers' dreams were based on false or misguided beliefs about the nature of conflict, which ultimately led them to their untimely deaths.