Clausewitz Analytical Essay
05 September 2012

The Metaphorical Description of Clausewitz’s Paradoxical Trinity

Carl Von Clausewitz expressed utter contempt for the military theorists of his day which motivated him to devote considerable time into producing his magnum opus titled On War. Even Herbert Rosinki, an authority on warfare in the mid twentieth century, wrote in his book (The German Army) that On War is “the most profound, comprehensive, and systematic examination of war that has appeared to the present day.” The book covered everything from strategic to tactical operations with a volume of information surrounding the conduct and composition of war. In the study of On War it is evident that Clausewitz wrote the book to be a timeless theoretical reference that is easily understood as seen with his use of a simile that states “the conduct of war resembles the workings of an intricate machine with tremendous friction….” When it comes to his definition of war Clausewitz calls it a paradoxical trinity, which can be confusing, but, to facilitate understanding, he uses a number of metaphors and analogies that effectively provide clarity on each point.
The first point of Clausewitz’s trinity states that “war is composed of primordial violence, hatred, and enmity,” which he relates to the people’s contribution to the make-up of war. To expound on what he means by this single point he uses the following metaphors: * War is nothing but a duel on a larger scale. * War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will. * War is a collision of two living forces.
This list of metaphors enhances the understanding of his first point, but the most vivid explanation of all is his analogy that a picture of war can be formed by imagining a pair of wrestlers. This description provides a rich mental image that wrestling enthusiasts, wrestlers, and primarily those with a basic knowledge of the sport can glean a greater clarity on the definition of war.
In his second point, Clausewitz states that war “is composed of chance and probability within which the creative spirit is free to roam.” The metaphor that aptly defines Clausewitz’s second point states that war is a