The enemy sniper in Liam O'Flaherty's short story The Sniper is ultimately revealed to be the protagonist's brother. This shocking revelation serves as the tragic climax of the narrative, highlighting the devastating personal cost of civil conflict.
The Literal Identity: A Brother in Arms
On a literal level, the enemy sniper is the sibling of the Republican sniper, fighting on the opposing side (the Free-Staters) during the Irish Civil War. This discovery underscores the brutal reality that civil wars often pit family members against each other.
- Watchful Opponent: The enemy sniper is portrayed as highly observant and skilled. He takes his first shot moments after the protagonist strikes a match to light a cigarette, indicating a keen awareness of his surroundings and an immediate response to any perceived vulnerability.
- A Familiar Foe: The twist of his identity emphasizes the profound tragedy of the conflict, where the lines between friend and foe are blurred by blood ties.
Symbolic Significance: The Division of a Nation
Beyond his literal identity, the enemy sniper also carries significant symbolic weight, representing the deep divisions within the greater family of Irish citizens during the civil war.
- Internal Conflict: His identity as the protagonist's brother powerfully symbolizes the internal strife and fratricide that characterized the Irish Civil War, where former comrades and countrymen turned against each other over political ideologies.
- Loss of Innocence: The act of killing his own brother, even unknowingly, signifies the ultimate loss of innocence and humanity brought about by war.
- The Shared Struggle: Both snipers, despite being on opposing sides, are engaged in the same desperate, watchful struggle for survival, reflecting the shared experience of all involved in the conflict.
The table below summarizes the dual interpretation of the enemy sniper's character:
| Aspect | Literal Interpretation | Figurative Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | The protagonist's brother | The division and conflict among Irish citizens |
| Role in Story | An opposing, skilled sniper | A symbol of the brutal nature of civil war and fratricide |
| Significance | Personal tragedy, shocking twist | National tragedy, fractured unity, shared suffering |
| Characteristic Action | Taking the first shot after the protagonist lights a match, demonstrating vigilance. | Represents the ever-present threat and watchful opposition inherent in a divided nation. |
The Broader Context of the Irish Civil War
The Sniper is set against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War (1922-1923), a conflict that arose between two opposing groups of Irish nationalists: the pro-treaty Provisional Government (Free-Staters) and the anti-treaty Irish Republican Army (Republicans). This historical context makes the revelation of the enemy sniper's identity even more poignant, as it mirrors the broader societal breakdown where families and communities were torn apart by political allegiances.
