Skip to main content

Why does the sniper decide to risk taking a look at the corpse of the enemy sniper?

The Republican sniper may have had an idea that the Free State sniper would be someone he recognized. Many of the men who fought in the Irish Civil War had served together in the Irish Republican Army which had waged war against the British, gaining independence in 1921. A dispute arose between factions of the IRA and in 1922, they split. The protagonist sniper in Liam O'Flaherty's short story remained loyal to the Republican army...

The Republican sniper may have had an idea that the Free State sniper would be someone he recognized. Many of the men who fought in the Irish Civil War had served together in the Irish Republican Army which had waged war against the British, gaining independence in 1921. A dispute arose between factions of the IRA and in 1922, they split. The protagonist sniper in Liam O'Flaherty's short story remained loyal to the Republican army and believed that Ireland should have full autonomy, while the Free State soldiers, including the antagonist sniper, were in agreement with the Anglo-Irish Treaty which made Ireland part of the British Commonwealth. O'Flaherty suggests that the two snipers may have served together and the Republican sniper is curious because his enemy had been a good shot:



He decided he was a good shot, whoever he was. He wondered did he know him. Perhaps he had been in his own company before the split in the army. He decided to risk going over to have a look at him.



Of course, he did know the enemy, who turned out to be his brother. Apparently, as in any family, the politics of the two brothers turned out to be quite different. The fact that it was his brother may not have been that surprising to the Republican sniper as he was probably well aware of his own brother's marksmanship.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more