Heroism versus imperialist nihilism in W. H. Auden’s “the shield of achilles” and Hashim Al-Rifaie’s "a message from Africa'

Abstract EN

The paper at hand attempts to examine the concept of heroism in two of the modern poets.

One of them is W.

H.

Auden and the other is Hashim Al-Rifaie.

By tracing the development of this concept, it is noticed that some misconception has occurred, resulting in much aggression and injustice in the world.

Under the guise of heroism, many types of transgression against the freedom of other nations have been committed.

Those who seek justifications for their savagery and atrocities will certainly find some.

Hence, the creation of illusive false heroism to send soldiers to battle.

This is the strategy of beneficiaries.

Through an examination of Auden's “The Shield of Achilles” and Al-Rifaie's “A Message from Africa, ” it is hoped that the misconception has been cleared.

The intention is not to allow any exercise of deception in the name of heroism.

It is nihilism, rather than heroism, to colonize other people's native land.

It is again nihilism to boast of modern war equipment and exercise them on civilians and innocent people.

It is nihilism to encourage rape and moral degeneration.

This in anti-heroism.

Only when we develop a humanistic attitude can we have any claims to be called human; otherwise, we can be more savage than real animals.