Author Archives: Jpacheco

Juliana Pacheco Reading Effie Lee Newsome’s “Morning Light” (1918)

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I chose this poem by Effie Lee Newsome because it did not necessarily talk about the Great War. It is a poem written during the war, but not a poem about the Great War. Another reason I chose this poem was that we did not read as many texts written by African Americans. I was bewildered by this piece of writing. Nature is a central part of this poem, especially in its portrayal of humans. At first, I was confused as to why “dew-driers” were important; much like any poem I read, I think, “Well, what could this possibly mean?” After finishing the poem once, I thought it was just about the connection we humans have with nature; however, re-reading it, I realized that was just the surface. This piece is important to me because it highlights the beauty of nature that surrounds violence. Much of this topic was discussed at the beginning of the semester, based on the texts we have read, about how, even during war and horrible trench warfare, civilians were still trying to come to terms with peace. People were just looking for a break from the violence, often turning to nature. 

Lieutenant Hall and Shakespeare’s Mercutio

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When I read the mention of Mercutio in Aldington’s story, I immediately know what I wanted to comment on (Not because of the fact I took Shakespeare’s Early Plays class with Dr. Mauthur). Mercutio is a witty and cynical character, aware of the senseless violence between the Capulets and the Montagues. The line “They have made worm’s meat of me” comes from his curse he places, “A plague o’ both your houses! They have made worm’s meat of me.” The fued between the two families has caused his pointless death, and by placing that curse on them, Mercutio had sealed the houses foreshadowed demise.

That in that retrospect, Lieutenant Hall identifies with Mercutio. Throughout the diary entries we see Hall spiral and unable to conform m back into normal life. He was surrounded by senseless violence in the war, and it even haunts him. Hall himself says that the Germans (uses Boche at the beginning) he killed he didn’t know why he killed them and deeply regretted it. Another instance of Hall beginning to criticize the war, “But that is all covered over with decorations such as Honour, Country, Glory, Duty, and the like. It takes a little shrewdness to see that the people who own the land and the factories also run the Army. The Army is Tweedledee pretending to be Tweedledum, with a very big DUM!” It’s just so witty like Mercutio who was so quick to call out Romeo for his actions and the Capulets in turn. But the nail on the coffin to Hall identifying with Mercutio, is both are reduced to worm’s meat after all they have done. Mercutio, who came to Romeo’s aide with Rosaline, Juliet, and Tybult. Lieutenant Hall who killed and attempted to conform to society after the war like ordered. Both were left to rot because of senseless violence, and Hall commends Shakespeare for ‘foreseeing’ the armies treatment of soldiers after the war, of Mercutio’s after the war.

Juliana’s Reading Questions for September 25th (Hall)

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  1. In the book Not So Quiet, the story is written in Helen’s point of view with first person. Giving the readers insight on her thoughts. Aldington does something interesting with The Case of Lieutenant Hall and writes it in a “diary entry” format. How does Aldington’s “diary entry” framing of the story complicate or aid the narrative of the idea of victory and “the end” of the war? What does the format reveal or possibly leave out in contrast to stories like Not So Quiet and All Quiet on the Western Front?
  2. After Lieutenant Hall’s mental sanities spiral throughout the diary entries, filled with troubling and disturbing details. But still had intimate moments, what is the significance of the cold and robot-like tone of the coroner’s report at the end and what does it about societies behavior towards returning soldiers?
  3. In The Case of Lieutenant Hall, money and influence was brought up on several occasion in terms of the war. How does Lieutenant Hall’s discharge process expose inequalities of class wealth and influence, and what does this suggest about who was able to leave or “escape” the war more quickly? What other points does Hall make towards the end of the story about “paying one’s own way” and can that be interpreted.