Where does the conversation among the passengers begin? (War)
Answers
Theme: Patriotism
While the passengers have differing opinions over whose grief is greater, they all have strong patriotic feelings. No one even suggests that their sons shouldn’t have to fight in the war. It’s alright to feel sorrow, but it would be unthinkable to remove the cause.
The old man explains their sorrow by saying that a parent’s love for their children is simply greater than their love for country, as evidenced by any parent’s willingness to take their son’s place at the front. On the other hand, a young person loves their country more than they love their parents.
He asserts that young people naturally put love of country above all else, and are happy to die in battle. He twice points out that he’s speaking of decent boys. Likely, they’ve all heard of young men who tried to shirk their duty, and are disgusted by the thought—too indecent to tender as an alternative.
The old man also speaks of his son as a hero who died for King and Country. Everyone listens raptly and congratulates him.
Theme: Intellectualizing Emotions
The old man avoids dealing with his grief by intellectualizing over the death of his son. He claims that young people wouldn’t want their parents to cry over them “because if they die, they die inflamed and happy.”
Moreover, he says that dying young prevents their children from seeing “the ugly sides of life” (like having to let your child go to their death?), so “Everyone should stop crying; everyone should laugh, as I do…or at least thank God—as I do.” The old man amends his statement that everyone should laugh. That’s too much, even for him. Instead, they should thank God that their children die satisfied and happy