Dulce Et Decorum Est is a poem written by Wilfred Owen to show the real horrors of war. Both the beginning and the end of the text emphasise the writer's purpose of showing the readers the true horrors of war and how terrifying it can be. This allows the poem to portray the war in a more realistic way, to inform and affect the reader's way of thinking. People back in the day thought of war as a positive event to be a part of. They usually got their ideas of war from war poems, war poems like "Who's For The Game" written by Jessie Pope. Dulce Et Decorum Est pulls away from the concept of treating war as a game or an adventure; Dulce Et Decorum Est shows us a more realistic view on war.
The beginning of the poem shows us what condition the soldiers are in and how they are feeling. With quotes like "Bent double like old beggars under sacks" or "Knock-kneed, coughing like hags." These soldiers are living with critical conditions while being forced to fight in a war. In my opinion being in that situation can be scary for many people. Wilfred Owen's purpose of portraying a reality view on the war was only part of his intention to writing Dulce Et Decorum Est. The purpose of the poem was also to aim the poem to Jessie Pope, telling her that war should not be treated positively. Many soldiers joined the war for the "adventure" or just because their mates did. But what the soldiers did get in the end was a living nightmare and experiencing the horror of watching someone you know die. .
The author's purpose of showing the true horrors and portraying a realistic view of war is shown in the poem. When you see soldiers struggling to put on a gas mask, when gas shells drop behind them and explode. This part of the poem brings out the realistic and horrific view on war. The quote "Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time.