“He did it like an operatic tenor—a regular handsome fellow, with flashing eyes and lovely moustache, shouting a war-cry and charging like Don Quixote at the windmills. We nearly burst with laughter at him; but when the sergeant ran up as white as a sheet, and told us they’d sent us the wrong cartridges, and that we couldn’t fire a shot for the next ten minutes, we laughed at the other side of mouths.”
The given passage is from the short story "War" by Luigi Pirandello. In this passage, the narrator recounts a comical incident during a military exercise involving a soldier who resembles an operatic tenor in his appearance and enthusiasm. The soldier charges like Don Quixote, but the situation takes a turn when it is revealed that the soldiers were given the wrong cartridges, making their actions futile.
"He did it like an operatic tenor—a regular handsome fellow, with flashing eyes and lovely moustache, shouting a war-cry and charging like Don Quixote at the windmills."
In this part of the passage, the narrator describes the soldier's actions during the military exercise. The soldier's behavior is likened to that of an operatic tenor, emphasizing his dramatic and enthusiastic manner. He is described as a "handsome fellow" with "flashing eyes" and a "lovely moustache," suggesting a charming and dashing appearance. The soldier charges forward with great fervor, similar to Don Quixote, the fictional character famous for his chivalrous and idealistic but often foolish quests.
"We nearly burst with laughter at him; but when the sergeant ran up as white as a sheet, and told us they’d sent us the wrong cartridges, and that we couldn’t fire a shot for the next ten minutes, we laughed at the other side of mouths."
The soldiers watching the enthusiastic soldier find his actions amusing and almost burst into laughter. However, their amusement turns into surprise and concern when the sergeant urgently approaches them. The sergeant is visibly frightened, described as "white as a sheet," and informs them that they were given the wrong cartridges for their weapons. As a result, they cannot fire any shots for the next ten minutes. The soldiers' laughter turns into astonishment and apprehension as they realize the seriousness of the situation. Their initial amusement at the soldier charging like Don Quixote becomes ironic, as his actions were in vain due to the mistake with the cartridges.
This passage highlights the humor and irony in the story. It presents a vivid and comical image of the soldier's enthusiastic and theatrical charge, but the revelation of the wrong cartridges adds an unexpected twist, turning the situation into a moment of tension and surprise. The story "War" explores the contrast between the idealistic notions of war and the harsh reality of military life, using humor and irony to depict the absurdity of certain situations that arise during wartime.
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