Bayonet Charge (Ted Hughes)

Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes is a powerful and evocative poem that delves into the chaos and brutality of war, exploring themes of power, conflict, and the dehumanising effects of violence. You can read the poem below and will find analysis further down the page.

Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes

Suddenly he awoke and was running – 
raw In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, 
Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge 
That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing 
Bullets smacking the belly out of the air – 
He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm; 
The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye 
Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, –

In bewilderment then he almost stopped – 
In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations 
Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running
Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs 
Listening between his footfalls for the reason 
Of his still running, and his foot hung like 
Statuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows

Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame 
And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide 
Open silent, its eyes standing out. 
He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, 
King, honour, human dignity, etcetera 
Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm 
To get out of that blue crackling air 
His terror’s touchy dynamite.

Analysis

Themes:

Power and Conflict: The central theme of the poem revolves around the destructive power of war and the conflict between individual soldiers and the forces that compel them to fight. Hughes portrays the soldier as a powerless pawn caught up in the chaos of battle, driven by fear and instinct rather than rational thought.

Nature of Violence: Hughes explores the brutal and dehumanising nature of violence in war. The soldier's desperate flight from the battlefield is depicted in visceral detail, with imagery of "bullets smacking the belly out of the air" and "sweating like molten iron." The poem highlights the physical and psychological toll of war on individual soldiers, emphasising the sense of disorientation and terror they experience in the heat of battle.

Loss of Identity: The poem also explores the loss of individual identity in the face of the collective violence of war. The soldier is portrayed as a faceless figure, stripped of his humanity and reduced to a mere instrument of war. Hughes emphasises the dehumanising effects of violence, as the soldier becomes consumed by fear and desperation, losing sight of his own identity and purpose.

Language and Structure:

Imagery: Hughes employs vivid and visceral imagery to convey the chaos and brutality of war. Descriptions of the soldier's frantic flight through the battlefield, the "raw" air, and the "green hedge" create a sense of immediacy and intensity, immersing the reader in the soldier's harrowing experience.

Enjambment: The poem makes use of enjambment to create a sense of urgency and momentum, mirroring the soldier's frantic flight from danger. The lack of punctuation and the fluidity of the lines contribute to the poem's sense of chaos and confusion, as the soldier struggles to make sense of his surroundings and his own actions.

Repetition: Hughes employs repetition to underscore key themes and ideas throughout the poem. The repeated use of phrases such as "raw" and "sweating like molten iron" emphasises the visceral and physical nature of the soldier's experience, while also highlighting the dehumanising effects of violence.

Conclusion:

"Bayonet Charge" is a powerful and haunting exploration of the chaos and brutality of war. Through vivid imagery, stark language, and a compelling structure, Hughes captures the fear, desperation, and loss of identity experienced by individual soldiers in the heat of battle. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the devastating effects of violence on both individuals and societies.

You can find analysis of all the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here.