Character Analysis: All Quiet On The Western Front

When a soldier begins his first training camp or when he kills his first man, his boots are there warming his feet. Soldiers might not realize it but their boots are with them through their change of heart. In All Quiet boots resemble ageing, façade, and change in heart. In the beginning of the book Paul and Muller are bedside with their dieing

Enabling to survive in a war is a severe task, especially being in a group of men who in which everyone lives are at each other hands. With this in mind, Paul and his comrades are put at risk by being stationed in the front of No Man’s Land, in which various lives have been lost. In chapter four, a bombardment occurs and Paul helps his comrades by being informed about the gas and helps a recruit with his gas mask, “I pull mine out, my helmet falls to one side, it slips over my face, I reach the man, his satchel is on the side nearest me, I seize the mask, pull it over his head, he understands, I let go with a jump drop into the shell-hole” (Remarque 68). Immediately, this shows the use of comradeship through an attack by a bombardment on battle grounds. Comradeship is shown through the attack by Paul positioning the gas mask on one of the recruits who was not able to maintain the mask on, in which helps enable the recruit to

In both Battle Scars and All Quiet on the Western Front the soldiers haft to go through horrific physical wounds. One of these wounds are lost of limbs. When “Kemmerich” “lost his foot” none of his comrades dared to tell him

For the soldiers who were in WWI, they have to experience the horror and brutality of war everyday by fighting innocent men from the other side. They never knew when they would be able to go home. Not knowing if you would die or survive day by day would be so hard. Back then, the weapons they had wasn’t the most dependable, but they never could get close enough to do hand to hand combat. The one time there was hand to hand combat, was when Paul was stuck in a hole with a man from the opposite side. He thought the man was going to kill him, so he went and decided to stab the man in the heart. It turns out he wasn’t going to attack Paul, and Paul tried saving the man’s life. “The man gurgles. It sounds to me as though he bellows, every gasping breath is like a cry, a thunder, but it is not only my heart pounding. I want to stop his mouth, stuff it with earth, stab him again, he must be quiet, he is betraying me. Now at last I regain control of myself, but have suddenly become so feeble that I cannot anymore lift my hand against him.” (pg 217) Bellows of the horses were unbearable. Sitting there watching them

The fighting in the war resulted in the soldiers losing their humanity and suffering from PTSD. In Remarque’s novel, Paul and his comrades experience traumatic events, which result into them feeling no concern and compassion. Before entering war, Paul says, “By the animal instinct that is awakened in us we are led and protected. It is not conscious; it is far quicker, much more sure, less fallible, than consciousness” (Remarque 56). The horror in the war causes the soldiers to lose their humanity and slowly become

When Paul Baümer visits Franz Kemmerich in the hospital after his leg has been amputated due to a thigh wound infected with gangrene, Kemmerich gives his boots to him. As these boots are passed around from soldier to soldier after their death, they ultimately represent the low value placed on human lives in warfare and the expediency of necessity during war. The boots also symbolize the impersonal approach to war that soldiers need to survive. In addition, the boots can also symbolize the hardships of each wearer and, slowly, the progression of the war itself from start to finish; more or less the boots represent the saying “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes,” which all of the soldiers literally and figuratively did as fellow comrades. Another symbol of the gruesomeness and horror of war itself is Kemmerich’s wound. This is the first time since going into the war, pumped up on nationalism and masculine pride, that the soldiers really see the war as something else besides a romantic and idealistic concept. Paul describes Kemmerich as skeletal and pale, so that “his lips have fallen away, his mouth has become larger, his teeth stick out and look as though they were made of chalk…,” a horrific site for someone with a seemingly minor gunshot wound to the thigh. Remarque wants reads to understand the gravity of war and the perpetual presence of death,

At some point in life everyone copy's someone because they're either lost and don't know what tondo or because they feel that it's necessary to do so.

In the aftermath of World War 1, Germany was ordered to pay for reparations in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles. In order to pay for these reparations, Germany took out loans from the United States. When the United States was in a panic because of the Depression, America decided it was time to collect on the debts from Germany. As a result, many German banks shut down.

He illustrates the mental transformation that the soldiers undergo during battle, saying, “By the animal instinct that is awakened in us…we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals” (27). As soon as they hear gunshots, these young men go from being cheerful or gloomy, to pumping adrenaline, swelling fear, and the need to survive. In a war that isn’t tangible to them, that leaves them feeling useless like pegs on a game board, the only motivation they have is not dying. “We do not fight,” Paul explains, “we defend ourselves against annihilation” (48). At one point when he gets close enough in battle to see French soldiers—actual, touchable enemies—he then feels the anger and becomes violent. “We can see his face…we can oppose him; we feel a mad anger. No longer do we lie helpless” (54). Finally, Paul cannot take the loss of his close friends. Some of them lose their legs, and the majority of them die in front of his very eyes. Just witnessing even the enemy’s death is overwhelming. Hence, the men turn off all feelings, for the burden is simply too much to carry. “We have lost all feeling for one another…We are insensible, dead men, who through some trick, some dreadful magic, are still able to run and to kill”

He is still a boy, however, he is old enough to be in the military. He was chosen to be a doctor for the union. He scrambles across the field during the battle of Vicksburg. He is looking for the fallen soldiers who need a medic. He has already seen too much gore during this battle. Whenever he goes out looking for someone he never knows if he is going to be shot at. He knows that the Confederate army has a strategy where they shoot the doctors so the soldiers cannot go back into the battle. He had seen many horrors on the battlefield that he would never forget. One time during an amputation, he got so scared he froze up and could not help the other doctor. From that day forward, he no longer amputates the men in agony. Though he was always

on, Paul becomes incapable to deal with the death of his comrades. In addition, he is unable to have the same sensations and feeling with his family back home. He cannot express himself about the experiences and through what he went during war. On top of that Paul says that he does not see a peacfully futur and that he has memory troubles, to remember everything in the last years. However, Paul’s sensitivity makes him not being able to separate his feelings with himself entirely. In the novel there are specific moments where we observe the emotions of Paul coming up, for instance when he is with his sick mom spending some time together, but also his comrades death, Kat and Kemmerich. Another time in the novel Paul states, “Parting from my friend

Accordingly, as the frail Kemmerich was dying, Muller ceaselessly tried to convince Kemmerich to give him his boots, saying "Do you think he will last till tomorrow after drill? If he passes out in the night we know where the boots-" (p17-18), as Kemmerich was departing in front of him. As Muller showed an emotionless disregard for human life, he represented the costs of war mentally, as Kemmerich's represented the cost of war physically. Our protagonist, Paul commits another of these bestial alacrities that occur within this story. When Paul first entered the war he, like many others, thought that they were doing a noble and gracious deed, and thought little of what fear war brought into his heart and who else suffered this horror. Moreover, he thought none of the emotional consequences of pulling his gun trigger. When our prime exemplar was in the middle of a battle, he best exemplifies the heartbreak of war.

This is Luigi writing to you, and I gravely missed you, and I long for you even though I just arrived here. Currently, I am in Northeastern France (the Aisne-Marne Sector) near the towns of Belleau Wood and Chateau-Thierry near the Marne River. Specifically, I am in a waterlogged, rat infested trench. Officially, I am fighting in the Battle of Belleau Wood, and I am a Private in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Marines) lead by Captain Lloyd Williams. This captain will go down into history, he is an exceedingly influential leader. When we saw the French Soldiers retreating and advising us to retreat, he retorted, “Retreat, hell! We just got here!” (on June 2nd). Consequently, I am one of the people in combat, which is why I am required to be present

Going to war changes a man in many ways. Only the ones who have been to war can know what it is like and anyone who says differently is most definitely wrong. All soldiers, sailors and veterans know that once their time serving their country comes to an end things will never be the same and that fitting in will be nearly impossible. When Paul Baumer returned to his hometown of Duisburg Germany he experienced just that. Through paul's memories of before the war when he was still a normal citizen, you can clearly tell he has changed dramatically. When Paul comes home, he cannot even bring himself to talk about his experiences from the war. During his combat experience Paul must learn not to feel pain, compassion and not to mourn his lost and

For example, Muller, a soldier in the “Iron Youth” is shot by an enemy and dies a slow death. Once dead, Paul receives a pair of boots from another soldier in the group. Paul proudly obtains this significant possession, “Before he died he handed over… his boots-- the same that he once inherited from Kemmerich. I wear them, for they fit me quite well”. Paul describes how the boots will continue to be passed on, “After me Tjaden will get them, I have promised them to him” (279). Kemmerich’s boots that were passed onto Muller were finally given to Paul. The boots are planned to be passed throughout the friend group. The boots symbolize strong friendship between Paul and the other soldiers. Because the boots are inherited and used throughout the group, this brings them closer together which emotionally helps them. As a result, Paul’s friendships help him escape from the horror of the war because he is greatly united with the men. In addition, Paul maintains a strong friendship with Kemmerich. Kemmerich is in the hospital receiving treatment for a thigh wound. However, Kemmerich’s health conditions worsen and later dies with Paul nearby. Paul waits with Kemmerich during these sorrowing times, “I sit tensely and water his every movement…” (31). Paul notices that his health is declining and states, “...Kemmerich groans and begins to gurge. ‘Where is the doctor?’” (31). Paul stays with Kemmerich throughout his wound at the hospital. Paul continues to care for him while his health conditions worsen. This portrays how Paul and Kemmerich have a strong friendship because Paul is eager to assist him throughout the worst of times. Although the experience of war is dwelling, this friendship positively impacts Paul because he is truly united with Kemmerich. Paul cares for his friends will do anything to ensure they are healthy to help him escape from the horrors of the