Bonaparte and his friend Noble,two Irish,are in charge of gu

Bonaparte and his friend Noble,two Irish,are in charge of guarding two Englishmen,Belcher and Hawkings,captured during the Irish independent war.For them,their relationship is more based on their friendship than the relation of guard-prisoner.The two Englishmen become quickly friends with Irish people with their lovable manner.Belcher is quiet and helpful while Hawkings is talkative.However,the two Irishman were told that four Irish prisoners were killed by English army.As revenge,they are forced to kill their prisoners who are also their friends by duty.
Since the very beginning,the readers see a clear display of the difference between two groups of men.On one hand,we have Belcher and Hawkings who were referred constantly as “Englishmen”.On the other hand,the main characters and his friends are referred as “us”.The referrals indicate a deep gulf between the two sides that cannot be bridged.Moreover,they are also facing the dilemma of consider the Englishmen as prisoners or as friends.It was said in the beginning that they share the culture (dances) and the hobbies (player poker).Only a few words of Donavan change the statue of the two Englishmen from friends to prisoners,then to convicts.Their friendship becomes suddenly insignificant in the eyes of the two Irish guards.
O’Connor,through his writing,criticizes the ruthlessness of their enemy and the hospitability of Irish people.The comments of the old lady on the German war build up a cute and funny image of the character.Yet the fact that there was a young boy of sixteen years old being killed by English were heartbreaking.
The story also shows the ridiculousness and cruelty of war.Facing the dilemma between friendship and duty,the Irish characters choose to give up their friends and follow unconsciously the order of authority.The executions of the two Englishmen,especially the one of Belcher,were described as rituals.Author intends to emphasis the human emotions above the cold orders.However,the characters were powerless against their destiny.The tragic ending of the story make the readers to think about the purpose and the consequences of war.For this,the author intends to value the peace.

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