Life is the most precious gift in our world. Our human ability to experience life’s many eccentricities is what defines our existence. We live in a paradoxical world that is ever-evolving. The world around us is full of beauty and love, but along with this comes the hatred and evil that has endured throughout the countless centuries of mankind’s existence.
While growing up, all are subjected to both the good and bad this world has to offer. The events we have individually lived through have shaped us into the people we are today. Everyone in society has unique experiences that profoundly impact them for better or worse.
Throughout my life, I have endured both times of happiness and hardship. But perhaps that is the most beautiful part of life. If we never experienced the worst our world has to offer, we would not appreciate the times of happiness and joy.
Life, inherently, is defined by these many ups and downs. WWII had a profound impact on the generation that lived through it, with many individuals experiencing events that left a mark on them forever.
Each of these literary sketches paints a picture of the world during WWII and the war’s profound impact on the people that lived through it. In the story of “Violet”, we witness a girl whose life has been torn apart by the war.
We gain insight into the effect of the war on those that remained at home during the conflict through the story of a mother and daughter who were left alone following the tragic death of the patriarch of the family.
Violet recounts a memory of her father before he left for war for what would be the last time, taking her to the circus and carrying her on his shoulders on the way home. Contrasting this moment of happiness was the eventual death of her father in the following months while at war.
His death impacted her for years, instilling in her a sense of sadness and regret. His death represented a major turning point in her life, a shift from the beautiful naivety of childhood towards the harsh reality of adult life.
Violet ended up growing up without a father, and as the years passed by both her spirit and the memory of him began to fade into the past. The story of violet is but one example of the harsh toll the war had on the loved ones soldiers left behind in their pursuit of battle.
People tend to look at war as a massive statistic when in reality it is built upon countless little tragedies such as this: the story of a little girl who had to spend the rest of her life without her father’s guiding presence and love.
Events like Violet’s loss of her father happened every day back at home during the war, with people having their lives turned upside down every day by the loss of life. In the account of the “Gold Star Mother”, we further learn the intense emotional toll many were forced to endure.
Miss Vest was an honest, good-hearted woman who anxiously awaited her son’s return from the war front. Instead, all she was rewarded with was a gold star to remind her every day of the fact she lost her beloved son.
Miss V was left broken in light of his death, losing sight of the purpose of living in such a chaotic world. In time, she is able to find the strength to persevere through the support of her friends and through her religious faith.
She found the pain of his loss would be too hard to bear alone, and thus was helped through such hardship by her community. In times of great tragedy, many look for a purpose hidden amongst all the carnage. Many found their faith in God reaffirmed during the war, viewing it as all part of God’s plan.
Miss V is one of many gold star mothers, part of countless moms who lost their sons, all weaving together to create the elaborate tapestry that is war. WWII hurt countless throughout the country, leaving a mark on many people for the rest of their lives.
In “Fishin’ Buddy”, we encounter a man who survived the war but returned home forever scarred. Gordon Moore’s story is one of perseverance, and the ramifications war holds on the hearts of its survivors. Moore was a strong man, able to endure the hardship and support his family following the war.
But underneath his hardened exterior existed an emotionally broken man who held down his PTSD through the suppression of his feelings and refusal to talk of war. By his view, he was able to move on from the emotional burden by acting like it did not exist.
Alas, it was always there, for the traumatic memories of war would haunt him for the rest of his life. Such is the story of war; one cannot expect men to experience and commit unspeakable things and completely heal. For inherently, we are just men; we are able to be hurt, and some wounds never truly heal.
Countless survivors of the war endured scars like his for the rest of their lives, as in a way there are no true winners in a war. In the end, everybody is a victim. These three literary sketches demonstrate the power the war had on the lives of those who lived through it.
The three individuals detailed in these stories were forced to endure poignant scenes of pain and sadness, brought upon by the war. But these are not stories of sadness or hatred; they are stories of hope. In the face of this war, these people endured. They symbolize the greater American population as a whole.
The country was full of poignant scenes such as these, all unified by one greater truth: hope in the face of adversity. Through the ups and downs of the war, the American population persevered. This is the beauty of life.
We are a civilization that is able to push through the many ups and downs life has to throw at us and become stronger as a result. And through the stories of these courageous individuals, we can gain insight into the paradoxical, contrasting world that humanity lives in, and our fundamental ability to experience both the good and evil that exists around us.
Robinson, H., & Robinson, H. S. (2016). The poignant years: Times of Fun and Feeling. Resource Publications.
