“The Sniper”, by Liam O’Flaherty offers several forms of
conflict, both internal and external. Of course, the sniper is battling against external
forcers in the form of enemy fire. He kills the soldier who prepares to fire at him from
an armored car. He also kills the woman on the street, an informant who is apparently
working with his opposition. Further, he struggles with internal conflicts, such as
hunger, thirst and pain (when the opponent sniper fires a shot into his arm). Still, it
is likely that the greatest conflict for the sniper is the civil war. The quotations
below illustrate the sniper’s remorse:
Although the sniper
hit his target, his response to the shooting is remorseful rather than victorious. (“The
sniper looked at his enemy falling and he shuddered. The lust of battle died in him. He
became bitten by remorse.”)
Likewise, the streets are
clear. He can leave the rooftop without encountering the dangerous bullet fire from his
enemies. However, he is dissatisfied and disgusted by his role in the war. (“Weakened by
his wound and the long summer day of fasting and watching on the roof, he revolted from
the sight of the shattered mass of his dead enemy. His teeth chattered, he began to
gibber to himself, cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing
everybody.”)
Finally, when he sees the other sniper, dead
in the street, his remorse and disgust are heightened by the fact that he has killed his
brother. (“Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother's
face.”) The death of his brother would surely be a loss under any circumstance. However,
the realization that he is the responsible party must certainly create greater disdain
for his role in the civil war that wrecks his country.
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