Sex appeal Quote by W H Auden
“When the Sex War ended with the slaughter of the Grandmothers, / They found a bachelor's baby suffocating under them; / Somebody called him George and that was the end of it: / They hitched him up to the Army.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Age of Anxiety" (excerpt), 1947
A surreal depiction of war's aftermath, where violence consumes even the innocent, leading to the militarization of a child.
In simple terms: War destroys all, even the vulnerable, turning survivors into soldiers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how conflict dehumanizes and recruits the powerless.
Themes
war
violence
dehumanization
militarization
Mood
grim
reflective
Type
poetic
critical
When to use this quote
- post‑war societies
- refugee crises
- child soldiers
- political oppression
Key Concepts
surrealism
social critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does war reshape identity?
- What responsibilities do societies have to protect children?
A Different Perspective
The imagery is highly symbolic and may not reflect a literal historical event.
