The effect of a civil war has a variety of emotions on the soldiers involved. In the short story “The Sniper”, written by Liam O’Flaherty, takes place during the Irish Civil War. The Irish Civil War took place during 1921 and lasted until 1922. The treaty of Anglo-Irish Treaty was the foremost cause that led to the civil war. The treaty provided the Irish Free-State with a tremendous amount of independence and separated the power the IRA had in war. The protagonist’s, an unknown IRA sniper, mission is to take out an enemy Free-State sniper. Throughout the story he is face with war like challenges that he has to embark on. The short story “The Sniper” is about an experienced sniper and the lasting effects that the civil war is having …show more content…
The republican sniper takes cover and proceeds to address the wound without hesitation. After he has attended to the wound he discovers that the arm is not responsive and is not going to be able to use it. He develops a plan in order to kill the Free-State sniper. He takes off his cap and puts it on the end of the barrel of his rifle. He proceeds to stick the rifle barrel out into the street so the Free-State sniper can see it. Within seconds the enemy sniper shoots the cap and the republican sniper drops the rifle into the streets and hangs his arm over the roof. Then after his rifle has hit the pavement the republican sniper quickly sneaks away. Looking at the opposite roof he sees that the Free-State sniper believes he has killed his target and stands up from his position. To the republican sniper’s delight, he sees him stand up and takes his revolver out and shoots the Free-State sniper. Once the Free-State sniper has fallen to the street below the republican sniper courses the war and throws his revolver to the ground. Brought back to his sense by a bullet that whizzed by his head from the revolver, he wanted to go see if he had known the sniper before the war. After he races across the street to the fallen body he turns over the body to find not a stranger but the face of his …show more content…
When the sniper is trying to decide if he should have a smoke he is experiencing conflict. He knows that the risk of lighting the cigarette could expose his position and put his life in jeopardy. Regardless of these concerns he takes the chance. He narrowly survives the consequence of his choice. Later on he is faced again with choice of to take the old women’s life or let her run away. He did not have to think long like an instinct he shoots her. The sniper could not take the risk of the lady knowing his location and potentially tell another ground infantry. Liam O’Flaherty incorporated these scenarios into his story to demonstrate how some of the simplest actions can lead to monumental consequences. It shows the risks that soldiers have to take on a daily