Sniper Review

It’s the 1920’s and Ireland was struggling to do everything they can to keep their independence. The feud between the Republicans and Free Staters was getting more violent day after day. “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty portrays a young man’s love for his country and doing whatever it takes to make sure that his country gets the government they deserve. A young man stationed at a rooftop of an abandoned building had been there all day. His job was too take out a necessary complications that might have been in the way in his country’s republican society. He thought his whole day had gone to waste, until he chose to light a cigarette, resulting in gun fire aimed at him. He spotted movement from the opposite building’s rooftop. However, before he could shoot back, an armored car approached down below on the lonesome streets. A women came out to greet a man that had come out of the vehicle. An informer was what the women was, and she was pointing towards the sniper’s hideout. Before he seconded guessed himself the sniper shot both of them in the head, killing them instantly. In the rounds fired the sniper had, unfortunately, gotten shot in his right arm. He tended to his wound and then decided to take a shot rest, since his arm was in immense pain.

The author is implying that even your best friend can be your worst enemy. It’s all about how we learn to perceive our most difficult conquests. The sniper did not know that the boy he shot was his brother, only that it was the enemy. If he had realize that it was his brother, then he probably would not had shot him, and instead told him to run and hide. This goes to show how much people put their lives on the line for some politician. When people are taught what is right from bad at a very young age, it gets harder as they get older to change their perspectives. That way of life soon becomes the only thing they know how to do and when people come forcing in, to change it, they get very defense and will take physical action to ensure that nothing changes. That is precisely what happened in the book, when the Republicans were fighting against the Free Staters. The Republicans wanted to change the system, however it did not sit well with the Free Staters who were against the change. Due to this disagreement the two opposing sides with at it with all their might to cause as much destruction and chaos to the other side. All in all the author was trying to get his readers to understand how easily it is to be manipulated and turn against someone, who you once loved.