Compare and Contrast: The War Prayer by Mark Twain and Death of a Soldier by Louisa May Alcott (Essay Example)

World War 1 was recognized to be one of the deadliest conflicts in history, killing over 16 million people and significantly altering and changing people's lives. The War Prayer by Mark Twain and Death of a Soldier by Louisa May Alcott are two of numerous World War 1 stories and situations. Both stories are similar in many aspects, one of which is the value of patriotism during a terrible period such as war. Another example is how coming together as a family and celebrating one another may help many people cope with difficult conditions. While there are several similarities between these two texts, there are also some distinctions. In The War Prayer, the town gathers for a church service to pray for the soldiers who are heading to war, and in Death of a Soldier, an injured soldier who died as a result of the war receives no service or memorial in remembrance of him.

Patriotism is a term that refers to an idea that draws people together. A feeling of unity and affection for our nation is a sentiment that unites us. It's a common desire and goal to accomplish what's best for the country as a whole and to encourage each other along the way. In the passage, Death of a Soldier, a soldier named John was gravely injured during World War 1 and told he only had a short time to live. When asked if he regrets going to battle now that he knows it will end in death, John responds, “Never ma’am; I haven’t helped a great deal, but I’ve shown I was willing to give my life, and perhaps I’ve got to; but I don’t blame anybody, and if it was to do over again, I’d do it”, this demonstrates John's patriotism and devotion to his nation. An unidentified country goes to war in The War Prayer, and patriotic citizens attend a church service for soldiers who have been deployed. The people pray to God for victory and protection for their army. The community is demonstrating amazing patriotism by uniting in prayer to show their love for their country and the military fighting for it.

In times of crisis, most people want to help, so they band together and support others in their area and around the world. Humans are better equipped to make sense of the situation, their involvement in it, and add purpose to their own lives by supporting others. Both Twain and Alcott's passages show how a group of people can come together to help one another. When John is dying in Death of a Soldier, a number of his fellow veterans and medical staff members come into his room and show him love and support by simply sitting and conversing with him, so he doesn't feel alone in such a scary moment. Twain, like Alcott, depicts the community coming together to aid one another by displaying a town of people coming together and showing support for all of the troops and their families. The majority of them are experiencing similar agony and have banded together to be there for one another in the hopes of being able to relate to and sympathize with one another.

These two stories are similar in many respects, but one significant difference is that one involves a service for the troops in the war that includes praying and appreciating them for their service, and in the other, there is no ceremony or service for the deaths of soldiers. Death of a Soldier condemns the tragedy of a soldier's death on the battlefield; there is no funeral or ceremony, and his name would have appeared among hundreds of others due to the enormous number of soldiers who died every day in this cruel conflict. The Death of a Soldier highlights the lack of individuality and identity erasing that occurs when a soldier dies in the line of duty. The War Prayer is primarily focused on a wartime ritual, as well as remembering and honoring the warriors who are fighting for America. When it comes to religious rites and customs, Twain and Alcott's sections are directly opposed. Many men died as a result of the war, and Alcott's Death of a Soldier demonstrates that because there were so many deaths, few specific deaths are highlighted, and no service is depicted in the story. Unlike The War Prayer, which is centered primarily on a single large service.

World War 1 was a pivotal period in history. Many people have different stories and experiences to tell about the battle. Alcott and Twain are only two of many authors that provide diverse viewpoints on events that were taking place across the country. Though they have many similarities, such as emphasizing the significance of patriotism and uniting to support one another, they also demonstrate the differences in times when ceremonies or services were held in remembrance or appreciation of those who served or died in the conflict.