I joined the army on my seventeenth birthday, full of the romance

"I joined the army on my seventeenth birthday, full of the romance of war after having read a lot of World War I British poetry and having seen a lot of post-World War II films. I thought the romantic presentations of war influenced my joining and my presentation of war to my younger siblings." These words spoken by Walter Dean Myers reveal a profound truth about the seductive and often misleading nature of the romanticized portrayals of war. Myers admits that, influenced by literature and cinema, he joined the army with a romantic vision of war—a vision shaped by the heroic narratives of bravery, valor, and sacrifice. Yet, as his words suggest, he came to realize that the romance of war is often distorted, glorifying the brutality and suffering that soldiers truly face. Myers' reflection serves as a powerful reminder of how culture and media can shape our perceptions and decisions, often leading us to romanticize things that, in reality, are fraught with pain, loss, and disillusionment.

In the ancient world, the concept of romanticizing war was not new. Homer's Iliad, with its depiction of Achilles, Hector, and the Trojan War, portrays war as a grand and noble struggle, filled with heroism and valor. Achilles is a man of great strength, driven by honor and a desire to prove his worth. Yet, the deeper layers of the story reveal the tragic consequences of war—loss, grief, and the futility of violence. While Homer does not shy away from showing the glory of battle, he also reveals the darkness that war brings. In the Iliad, the warriors are celebrated, but we also see the futility of their efforts and the deep emotional toll it takes on them and their families. In many ways, Myers’ realization mirrors this ancient understanding: that the romanticized image of war often obscures the painful reality of its true cost.

Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, a man whose life and conquests were marked by incredible military success. To many, Alexander was the epitome of the heroic warrior, whose strategic brilliance and courage in battle led to the creation of one of the largest empires in history. However, the romance of Alexander’s story often overlooks the toll his endless wars took on those who followed him. His soldiers were worn thin, and the bloodshed they witnessed was not the stuff of legends, but of suffering. In his quest for glory, Alexander left behind a legacy of destruction, and many of his soldiers, just like Myers, may have once been filled with the romance of conquest, only to find themselves burdened by the grim realities of war. Myers’ reflection echoes the idea that the romance of war often blinds one to its human cost—the mental, emotional, and physical toll that soldiers endure.

In the modern era, the depiction of war in World War I British poetry and post-World War II films often focused on the valor and sacrifice of soldiers. The glory of battle was portrayed as an opportunity to demonstrate courage, bravery, and the ideal of fighting for a noble cause. Yet, as Myers came to understand, the reality of war is far from the glorified images shown in films and literature. The works of poets like Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon did not shy away from showing the horror of war—the death, the maiming, and the emotional scars that soldiers carried with them long after the fighting ended. Myers’ realization that he had been influenced by the romantic portrayals of war speaks to the deceptive nature of these narratives, which often fail to account for the deep human cost that comes with such violent endeavors.

This theme is not only found in war literature, but in the lives of many soldiers throughout history. Ernest Hemingway, a writer and soldier who fought in World War I, famously wrote about the disillusionment of soldiers who entered the war with noble ideas, only to return deeply scarred and traumatized. In his novel A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway portrays the disillusionment of Frederic Henry, a young officer who joins the war expecting glory, but finds only suffering, death, and loss. Hemingway’s work underscores the message that the romanticism of war is a dangerous illusion, one that blinds the young to the real consequences of battle. Like Myers, many soldiers find that the reality of war is far removed from the glorious stories that once inspired them.

The lesson here is that romanticism often clouds our judgment, leading us to make decisions based on idealized visions of bravery and honor, without considering the pain and suffering that such choices may bring. Myers’ reflection on his romanticized view of war, shaped by literature and film, is a warning to future generations: do not be blinded by the illusions of glory. War is not the romantic adventure it is often made out to be, but a harrowing, tragic, and devastating experience that leaves lasting scars on both the individual and the collective.

To future generations, I say this: let the wisdom of those who came before you guide your understanding of war and romantic ideals. Do not be swayed by the glorification of violence and conquest in books or films, but seek the truth that lies in the reality of human suffering and loss. Myers’ reflection urges you to question the romantic narratives you encounter and to approach life’s decisions with a clear understanding of the consequences. True courage and honor lie not in blind romance or unthinking action, but in wisdom, compassion, and the strength to create peace rather than destruction.