The Sniper: A Short Story Analysis

“The Sniper” Short Story Analysis

Liam O’flaherty’s “The Sniper” creates an eerie feeling caused by the intensity and severity of the raging war of the authors mind and text. Having read “The Sniper” and given the end, a notion is created that the author has brotherly issues or perhaps issues with a friend that is considered a brother. The sniper in the story is going through war and through the text it is shown that he is cautious and patient in his work. Although he is careful in the line of duty, his work has become the main cause of a severe mental complex. Being a sniper, death is something that must come easy to a person, and if not easy, a mental state of great self-security is needed to cope with the constant and brutal death that takes place right before them. The ending of “The Sniper” points out endless possibilities for a foreshadowing of the main character. The sniper opposing to the main character was not unlike the main sniper, he too, was cautious and took time in his work. It just so happened that the opposing didn’t turn out on top. The opposing sniper turned out to be the brother of the main and with this situation, It suggests self-loathing perhaps even a contemplation of suicide for the main sniper, seeing as he had killed his own brother. “The Sniper” written by Liam O’flaherty demonstrates flaws and severity of war, whether it be a civil war, a world war or a war raged inside a mind. Violence brings nothing but loss, even after you have won.