Quote 3: “War is what happens when language fails.” ― Margaret Atwood by SARAH ADAMS

Sarah Neal

2025-12-23 14:46:59 UTC

Question 1:

To me this quote means that war is what happens when all else fails such as lines of communications. When people/ countries don't communicate with each other, they often disagree. They try to show the other that their point is better, without trying to hear the other out. Then countries end up fighting with violence rather than trying to talk it out or compromise on a solution until it is already too late. At this point many lives have been lost and important things are now at stake.

Question 2:

I think that at some point war is bound to happen. I think this because in the past people have done sneak attacks such as Pearl Harbor and they didn't have a chance to talk it out before attacking. Similar to the quote when people don't communicate or don't find a compromise it often leads to war.

Matthew Sanchez

2025-12-23 16:23:19 UTC

To me this quote means when countries don't speak to each other or don't communicate during an arguments is when war falls. When someone or a country tries to prove someone wrong, there is no communication in that. This means when there is no talking things through it leads to fighting, which leads to war. To me this shows the struggle that country's have to not discuss things before rushing to war.
War is bound to happen, this is because not every country will agree on everything. If that were the case then everything would be perfect. The lack of talking or trying to agree with other countries, is because every country forces everything to go there war. In that case war is bound to happen at some point because everyone wants different things for there country.

Emily Raines

emilyraines2 — 2025-12-23 16:24:48 UTC

1.)

This quote means to me that when people try to negotiate and it doesn't go as planed, people will give up and result to war/ fighting to other countries. so there trying to be nice and talk it out but it leads to people fighting. it also means people give up and they would rather fight than talk.

2.)

War is inevitable, people argue but its like between people it starts as argument and lots of the time starts something bigger than yelling (fighting). that's kind of what the quote is talking about, but to a bigger extent between 2 places creating a war.

Allison Lipscomb

2025-12-23 16:31:25 UTC

1: To me this means, war starts due to the lack of communication between different countries. Some countries might think other than the other which creates confusion, and sometimes war. It also could mean that when communication breaks down, war goes with it.

2: I think that in some point in life, war is inevitable. This only occurs due to the miscommunication between countries. Compared to past experiences with attacks and especially sneak attacks like Pearl Harbor, people don't really talk to the country before fighting, they don't choose to think before they act. They just start a war, because they think it is the best thing they could do.

Avery O'Keefe

2025-12-23 16:35:13 UTC

Question 1:

This quote means to me that when language fails, communication fails as well. People are not able to have mature conversations with other countries. Countries need to be able to agree and disagree with each other kindly without anything starting a war.

Question 2:

War is inevitable, because when war breaks out, it is always a disagreement. There was no way of stopping Japan before attacking Pearl Harbor before it was too late.

Savannah Buechele

savannahbuechele — 2026-01-05 18:07:36 UTC

1.) To me this quote means that when people say the wrong things, or something that offends another like a lack of communication and misunderstanding it causes problems between each other. As if war is the solution to something that was said wrong by someone else. I also think that it means when for example a country trys to agree upon something but the other country doesn't like the idea or agree with the words that were said, their idea is to just battle it out instead of trying to talk things out and actually communicate.

2.) I do think that war is avoidable I don't think its just bound to happen because there are definitely ways around it. If countries just tried hard enough to agree upon something they could avoid battling each other for a final result. War is not something that is meant to happen it happens when there is a large disagreement if there were no disagreements or compromises between the countries war may not even take place.

Inbisat Hussain

inbisathussain — 2026-01-05 18:09:30 UTC

1. What this quote means to me is, after talking and not finding something, people go to violence. Language being failed means, it couldn't be talked through or couldn't find a compromise. War is what happens means, when things aren't solved with words people use violence, for this case, war.

I think war is inevitable until peace, empathy, sympathy, and love is in everyone's hearts. War is what happens when people forget that they aren't the only one living on a flying rock

Khilianys Rosa

khilianysrosacarri — 2026-01-05 18:10:23 UTC

To me this quote means war starts due to the lack of communication due to different language in different countries. When communicating it can cause misunderstanding which causes anger between the countries. Then causes war because they think war can solve their issues instead of just talking it out.

War is inevitable, because once the countries or the people in charge get into a disagreement they would want revenge and start war to show that they are somehow right or to show they are stronger.

Jayden Seeger

jaydenseeger — 2026-01-05 18:10:37 UTC

This quote means to me that when people fail to communicate or trade with other countries when certain things don't go their way. This can result in war and involve many battles to happen. Even though talking about each of their problems might be a better solution instead of war this normally is never the outcome.
I believe that war is inevitable and eventually war will occur. Unless countries weren't in contact at all and didn't interact with each other at all then maybe war wouldn't be inevitable. I say this because not everyone is going to approve with what is going on.

Mia Wills

miawills1 — 2026-01-05 18:11:34 UTC

To me, war is an effect that starts with a lack of communication. When countries disagree or put each other's ideas down, it could lead to a hard time having mature and serious conversations. This can result in communication breaking down, which can fire up the idea of war. Countries begin to become frustrated and give up working out their disagreements.
War is bound to happen since miscommunication and disagreements are common. Other countries may have different needs or expectations because it's hard to agree on one idea/plan. Instead of thinking things through, their first ideas may be to fight it out. Although, this doesn't prove their idea clearer than the other side. The lack of negotiation is common, which means that war is inevitable.

Vincent DiDominzio

2026-01-05 18:13:23 UTC

Question 1:

To me this quote means to prevent a good relationship or to prevent war on other countries. The quote means that when language fails between the two countries. The relationship will start to crash and war will start to increase.

Question 2:

I don't think war is inevitable. No matter how good a country could be. Another country will always want something from somehow to gain power, resources, or land. Another reason why war is not inevitable is sometimes countries start war just to show dominance on others and show they are better.

melissa coutinho

2026-01-05 18:14:33 UTC

1. To me, this quote means that when communications 'fails' it'll lead to complications (war). the lack of communication won't get both sides opinions across, which will lead to confusion and anger. Communication will allow both countries to express how they feel from other countries, and can prevent misleading thoughts.

war is inevitable because once one country strikes from miscommunication, they won't be able to communicate and fix problems, possiblly the more communication they try to get around could even make problems worse.

Keyshawn pratt

keyshawnpratt — 2026-01-05 18:17:33 UTC

1.How this means to me how that when people don't come to agreement or where other countries won´t trade things with in other places that wants to trade with them they will want to retaliate against the other one this will resulted to violence overall this shows that they didn't come to agreement.

That war is unspeakable because it can just happened so out of the blue but it can be prevented if countries agree on trades agreement and which it won´t result towards violence

Gage Vigneault

gagevigneault — 2026-01-05 18:18:12 UTC

1. To me this quote means that when language fails people can have good conversations with other countries makes confusion and starts war when they try to prove them wrong because not talking through things leads to war and fighting

war is inevitable because of miscommunication and disagreements and when a country makes a move they cant talk and communicate to fix it.

Victoria Golan

victoriagolan — 2026-01-05 18:18:58 UTC

1: This quote means to me that when two different countries have a trouble time communicating with each other. Most of the time those countries will lead to war if there are disagreement. Instead, Countries will not communicate poliety and make an agreement.

2: I think countries can avoid war. Countries could agree on something the same as the other country to not result into a war breaking out.

Nia mullen

niamullen — 2026-01-05 19:08:03 UTC

Atwood's quote suggests that war is caused by no proper communication, and societies can no longer resolve conflicts through dialogue or understanding, Therefore war is the tragic outcome history suggests it's a recurring human thing over decades . Like World War II, often stemmed from unresolved tensions and failures in communication , and today's regions where dialogue is replaced by aggression, making war an inevitable outcome.