Monthly Blog on War

Julie Zook

Mrs. Burnett

12 AP English

30 September 2011

Monthly Blog on War

            There are many wars that have occurred throughout history.  Besides real wars, there are small wars that go unnoticed since most people are unaffected by them.  A good Socratic Seminar question for The Power of One is number three because a war-like diction is being used throughout Peekay’s life and in the world.  Peekay went to an Afrikaans boarding school during the Boer War and is treated as a soldier.  The students know that the British forced the Boers into concentration camps which make them believe they should torture Peekay.  Everyday, the Judge and his stormtroopers bully him by beating him up and call him a name that became his real name in the beginning of the novel.  Peekay is told by the Judge that Hitler would march him out to sea.  The effect of the war-like diction and imagery is very dramatic for Peekay.  Peekay found a way to camouflage by not crying but it made him figure out what his goal in life is.  I think the war-like diction was appropriate because he would have never made the decision to be the welterweight champion of the world if he didn’t have a reason to beat the Judge.  Even though Peekay changes as he gets older, the war-like diction continues.  He thought of the mines as if he was returning to the boarding school and the grizzly represents the Judge.  Peekay thought he beat the Judge because he was very successful at his job in the mine.  In today’s society, there are many events that relate to a war-like diction.  Since we are almost always at war, there are many things that prepare us.  There are commercials that are sponsored by different units in the war.  This way of advertising persuades people to become a soldier so they can fight for our country.  Like Peekay, there are schools as well as camps that help you prepare.  People are trained in boot camp how to survive the war.  They learn the commands and how to hold a gun properly.  Boot camp changes people and turns them into what they make them be with rigorous training and strict discipline.  No one realizes what they have to go through to become a soldier.  There are many examples of war-like diction in the real world and I think they help us become prepared for the future.  No one knows what lies ahead so we have to get ready for whatever is out there.  Even though 9/11 was unexpected, many people risked their lives to save others.   The soldiers are always ready to fight because they were prepared through the war-like diction.  In conclusion, war-like diction in the world and in the novel is used to prepare us for our journey in life.