'Disabled' begins in the present, where an unnamed character sits in a “wheelchair, waiting for the dark”. The character is nameless as they are not just one, but many soldiers who share the same fate. Instead of using a wheelchair, Owen used the phrase “wheelchair.” This suggests that someone has to push the chair for the soldier as he cannot do it himself, showing that he is dependent on society. Owen uses the word “dark” which could be a metaphor for death. This could indicate that the soldier has wasted much of his life and can no longer do anything but “wait for dark”. The soldier “shivered in his hideous gray suit.” The use of the word “shiver” indicates that the soldier is cold. This suggests that the soldier is not well cared for and is isolated from society. He wears a “horrible gray suit,” which could be seen as a suit of illness, showing the lack of life. The soldier most likely did not choose to wear these clothes – Someone else may have chosen them for him, showing that he is dependent on society, despite being isolated from it. The alliteration of “horrible” and “grey” emphasizes the sadness and lifelessness of the soldier. Owen's choice of words makes this emphasis effective: “Horrible” is a harsh word that shows the soldier's dark and depressed state of mind. “Grey” represents lack of color and sadness. The soldier is “legless” and “sewn short” at the elbow. This alliteration is effective as it makes it appear as if his arms are sewn shut. A caesura in the middle of the line strongly affects the reader as it reflects the character. The phrase is “cut short,” just like the soldier is. Owen repeats the word “voices” in the first verse to emphasize what the soldier can no longer do. Even the soldier must be "taken care of" as ... middle of paper ... since society has abandoned and isolated him. Owen repeats the phrase “why don't they come” to emphasize the soldier's pity and desperation. World War I left soldiers suffering even after the war. Many had suffered not only physical but also mental ailments. As a result, soldiers were dehumanized by society. Owen's brilliant execution across a wide variety of contrasts made "Disabled" a brutally effective poem. The constant change in tense and tone leaves the reader with not only sympathy towards the soldiers, but also anger towards the government for lying to them and towards society for betraying the soldiers. Owen's ingenious use of language and poetic techniques, as well as the multiple rhetorical questions at the end of the poem, leave the reader with a question: Who is to blame for the soldier's fate, society, or himself??