Themes Analysis'

Elliot Prusa

SS semester project

Mr. Walker

5/2/10

The Art of War Themes Analysis

For my semester project, I choose to read The Art of War. The Art of War is a collection of military strategies and lessons written by Sun Tzu in the 6^Th Century B.C. This book is broken down into thirteen chapters. Each of which has a main moral or theme, after reading this book I have analyzed the first 3 chapters themes.

In the first chapter, Tzu talks about the Calculations and Estimations of warfare. At first I was shocked to see how educated and intelligent military minds of the 6^th Century B.C. were. I never had realized how much strategy played into war until reading this book. In the first chapter Tzu explains the five fundamental factors that define a successful outcome they were: the Way, seasons, terrain, leadership, and management. By thinking, assessing and comparing these points Tzu could calculate whether he would have victory. He believed faltering from them would mean failure. In many cases those same components can change the outcome of an entire war, even today. I was impressed by Tzu’s attention to detail. He explained how you can never let anything slip through the cracks, because if you do it could be the difference between winning and losing.

In the second chapter, Tzu talks about the challenges and waging warfare. In this chapter I was impressed by Tzu’s knowledge of economics and other aspects of war, and what you must do in war in order to win. He explains how to understand the economy of war and how success requires making the winning play, and how it, requires limiting the cost of competition and conflict. Tzu understands and explains something in this chapter, which some people never learn in their entire lives. It is to have a killer instinct, to be wilder and scarier than the opponent in exchange for victory.

In the third chapter, Tzu talks about key offensive strategies of warfare and the importance of a planned attack. I read this chapter about the same time we were studying the Mongols ironically. I say ironically because in this chapter Tzu defines strength as unity, not size, and the five ingredients that you need to succeed in war. I was baphled as I read this because it began to show me, that these military strategies of Tzu actually worked and they still work today. Tzu spoke of how numbers were not as important as unity and teamwork. This is not just a fundamental part of warfare, but in all walks of life. At this point I became hooked on the book and became used to Tzu’s style and ingenious mind of warfare.