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Rhetorical Question in ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ by U2: Analytical Essay
Sunday Bloody Sunday : The Bloodshed of 1972 and it’s Legacy
U2 lead singer Bono in the song, Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983), condemns the violence caused by the Troubles, implying that the bloodshed has gone on for too long. Bono supports his condemnation by using poetic devices, such as rhetorical questions, repetition, and a war motif to emphasize the true horrors of the Troubles. The songwriters purpose is to encourage peace by criticizing the violence and taking a nonpartisan position on the conflict. The author addresses the entire world, specifically the Irish affected by Bloody Sunday and the Troubles, using sad and angry tones.
On January 30, 1972, the second Bloody Sunday occurred in Derry, Northern Ireland. The Parachute Regiment of the British Army killed fourteen innocent citizens. These citizens had participated in a peaceful protest against the British policy of imprisoning suspected members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) without a trial. Although an investigation concluded that none of the protesters were armed with bombs or guns, the government only charged one of the seventeen officers who opened fire (Miller). This atrocity inspired the creation of Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2. In this song, U2 identifies with and describes the horrors of Bloody Sunday ( U2s Sunday Bloody Sunday Meaning ). The band describes the horrific events by explaining that there were Broken bottles under childrens feet/bodies strewn across the dead-end street (U2 7-8). Though this song is about Bloody Sunday, as it appears, the song is also about a conflict more complex, the Troubles. The Troubles was a conflict between the Nationalists, who wanted Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to reunify, and the Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom. During this period of turmoil from 1969 to 1998, tensions between the Nationalists and the Unionists who were supported by the British increased until violence erupted (Coy). Although this is not explicitly stated in Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2 alludes to the long duration of the Troubles and implies their position on the situation by asking, How long, how long must we sing this song? (U2 3). By posing this question, U2 refers to the broader context of Bloody Sunday and implies that the Troubles had gone on for too long.
U2 uses several poetic devices, including rhetorical questions, repetition, and a war motif in Sunday Bloody Sunday. One example of a rhetorical question and repetition is: How long, how long must we sing this song?/How long? How long? (U2 3-4). By asking this question, the band makes their position on the Troubles clear – they believe that violence must stop. Repetition strengthens their argument. The use of rhetorical questions and repetition also draws attention to the long duration of the Troubles, tying Bloody Sunday into the bigger picture of the Anglo-Irish conflict. In addition, U2 uses a war motif to enhance the meaning behind Sunday Bloody Sunday. Throughout the song, the band uses several words meant to evoke war imagery, such as dead (7), battle (9), and trench (U2 19). Furthering this imagery, Bono writes, Theres many lost, but tell me, who has won? (U2 18). This rhetorical question compels the audience to think about the Troubles as more than a conflict between Unionists and Nationalists. He wanted to emphasize that the Troubles was a conflict between humans all willing to fight to the death until one side was victorious. The question also highlights that neither side really won because their victory was at the expense of death. This device emphasizes the true horror of the Troubles by comparing it to war.
Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 was inspired by Bloody Sunday in 1972 but was not produced until 1983. The lyrics condemn the atrocity which caused more citizens to join the IRA and worsened the Troubles, rather than picking a side. In order to make their nonpartisan position on the conflict clear, before the song began Bono stated, This song is not a rebel song. Additionally, Bono waved a white flag as a call for peace during the performance ( Sunday Bloody Sunday ). These actions remind the audience that the song neither glorifies the Troubles nor encourages revolution. This song continued to take on a new meaning as the Troubles progressed. For example, when thirteen citizens were killed by a bomb set by the IRA in the Enniskillen massacre on November 18, 1987, the day the band recorded Sunday Bloody Sunday for their Rattle And Hum movie, they gave a very emotional performance, outraged by the continuing violence. Although this song was written about the Irish, its angry tone and cry for peace make it relevant to other countries and conflicts. For example, the band performed this song waving an American flag after 9/11 in order to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (Marvilli).
Sunday Bloody Sunday was written by U2 in 1983 about Bloody Sunday and the lengthy conflict between Unionists and Nationalists in Northern Ireland. This song is influential for its nonpartisan condemnation of violence and its encouragement of peace, which is emphasized by the use of literary devices, such as rhetorical questions, repetition, and a war motif, as well as by its angry and sad tones. The song continues to be well-known today, decades later. Regardless of the decade, conflict, or country, the truth of the universal cry for peace presented in Sunday Bloody Sunday is relevant.
Works Cited
- Coy, Patrick G. ‘Bloody Sunday.’ World Book Advanced, World Book, 2019, www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar726443. Accessed 2 Nov. 2019.
- Marvilli, Joe. Rock History 101: U2s Sunday Bloody Sunday. A consequence of Sound, Consequence of Sound, 2019, https://consequenceofsound.net/2009/11/rock-history-101- u2s-Sunday-bloody-Sunday/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.
- Miller, Michael E. ‘In Ireland, Bloody Sunday’s ‘communal wound’ reopened on St. Patrick’s Day’s eve.’ Washingtonpost.com, 16 Mar. 2019. Gale In Context: High School, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A578730618/SUIC?u=cinc48953&sid=SUIC&xid=4f00ebd. Accessed 2 Nov. 2019.
- Sunday Bloody Sunday. Songfacts, Songfacts, 2019, songfacts.com/facts/u2/sunday-bloody-Sunday. Accessed 4 Nov. 2019.
- U2. Lyrics to Sunday Bloody Sunday. Genius, Genius Media Group, 2019, https://genius.com/U2-sunday-bloody-sunday-lyrics. Accessed 1 Nov. 2019.
- U2s Sunday Bloody Sunday Meaning. Song Meanings and Facts, Song Meanings and Facts, 2019, songmeaningsandfacts.com/u2-sunday-bloody-sunday-meaning. Accessed 3 Nov. 2019.
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