The structure of Faulk's Birdsong allows us to observe the impact of war on many individuals across generations. Throughout the novel, even outside of the period 1914-1918, Faulks continues to maintain a connection between the past and the present through his use of a number of motifs and themes. The lasting impact of the war suggests that history must never be forgotten, which is the overarching message of Birdsong. In Birdsong, Faulks considers the idea of ​​war as an "exploration of the extent to which men can be degraded" in terms of the impact that war had on individual characters, resulting in dehumanization. The main characteristic of human beings is individuality. During his three days of rest, Jack's character reflects that each soldier had the potential to be an individual, but that due to "the shadow of what awaited them, [they] were interchangeable", which which is an allusion to the politics of war. ; men were simply seen as statistics. Men seek destiny in war, as demonstrated by Stephen playing cards with men and stating that Weir would rather have a "malignant providence than an indifferent providence", suggesting that men want to feel that someone is planning their future. During an intense bombardment, Faulks describes how Tipper's "iris lost all light and sense of life" during his "natural eruption of fear" when the shells landed near him. The eyes are here a metaphor for life; it is the eyes of man that represent individuality and are often described as the window to the soul. Faulks' description of the loss of light in the eyes suggests that because of the war, Tipper has lost what makes him human. The natural fear and "high, crazy sound" that emanates from Tipper is a "primal fear" that lasts...... middle of paper...... generations. A connection is also created between Elizabeth and Tipper as Faulks describes that Robert could see Elizabeth's eyes "fill with a determination he had never seen" which contrasts with the dehumanization of Tipper as the light faded from his eyes. In this case, Elizabeth is offered a new life. The new life of the character baby John indicates that the effects of the war will always remain and that in "those who still live", its memory will always live on. In summary, Faulks tells us that we should have a strong interest in war. because of the sacrifices that men have made for us. The war was a turning point for all of society and without it our lives would be very different today. It is not something that should (or will) be pushed aside over time, as the memory of the war will forever resonate through generations..