Sassoon’s Declaration

Regeneration: Sassoon’s Declaration

Sassoon’s declaration is impressive in its frankness and complexity of thought. Sassoon comes across as extremely bold, attempting to hide nothing, clearly declaring the document as “an act of wilful defiance of military authority” in the very first sentence. Seemingly fearless, Sassoon accuses political leaders of being “evil and unjust” and plainly expresses his opinion that most non-combatants are “callous”. This extremely direct language did not waver throughout the entire declaration. Sassoon also seems extremely intelligent, his Declaration obviously not fueled by merely a moment of passion. Sassoon denies “protesting against the conduct of war”. Instead, Sassoon objects soldiers being killed for reasons he believes are “political errors and insincerities”. Readers immediately realise that Sassoon had thought hard and long before reaching the argument presented in his declaration. In beginning the novel with such a direct and powerful declaration, Barker connect readers with Sassoon as a character after only the very first page.

I admire Sassoon’s courage in choosing possibly the most difficult path. Even under extreme pressure from commanders, Sassoon still manages to protest against the war in such a public manner. It is clear that Sassoon does not object to the war due to cowardice--if he were a coward, he would simply choose to argue against the war from moral, pacifist grounds. Instead, Sassoon boldly chooses a middle ground: neither disliking or approving of war, but simply expressing suspicion and distrust of those in power who lead nations into war. Even more impressive in his boldness, Sassoon criticizes not only the world's leaders, but also noncombatants who allow world leaders to send their families to war. Sassoon believes citizens safely at home could not even begin to comprehend the true horrors of war. Seeming to hold nothing back, Sassoon critisizes all those he believes deserve criticism-- and it is because of this readers are convinced that he is purely "acting on behalf of soldiers".