Futility of War in Mailer'sThe Naked and the Dead

Abstract

Mailer'sThe Naked and the Deaddramatizes the protagonist General Cummings, and common Soldier's futile existential struggle in war. Cummings' heroic struggle and effective military techniques becomes futile because the war is won by chance and coincidence. The victory becomes worthless to him. It causes him a sense of failure and he realizes his futile struggle which gave nothing except pain, suffering, death and depression. Still he gives continuity to his futile task. Like Cummings, common soldiers are also condemned to fight repeatedly though the war has no meaning.