Kemmerich's Boots
World War I began as a European conflict, only gradually did it develop into a world war. The European nations started war with a prestigious vision about war only to be mentally and emotionally devastated by the truth of the Great War. The growing tensions between the European countries were caused by militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. There were many immediate and long-term impacts which subsequently followed. It was a conflict between the allied powers and central powers. The Central Powers comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, while the Allied Powers involved France, Britain, Russia, Serbia, United States and Belgium. The timeless classic All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
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Soldiers who barely knew each other were thrust into extremely dangerous situations. At the onset of the novel Paul has a naive judgement about war however, that quickly changes as Paul witnesses bloodshed. Paul and his friend go to visit their comrade, Kemmerich, whose leg got amputated. All the soldiers including Paul were aware that there friend was on the brink of death. Instead of being concerned, Paul and the others worry about who will get Kemmerich’s boots, “But as it is the boots are quite inappropriate to Kemmerich’s circumstances, whereas Muller can make good use of them” (Remarque 21). Furthermore, the death of a fellow soldier doesn’t affect Paul and the others since they show no sympathy instead they are egoistic and obsessed with who will get the boots. Paul’s tone demonstrates that he no longer cares for his buddies but rather focuses on his own selfish desires. Paul’s emotions have vanished and he believes that the boots are “inappropriate to Kemmerich’s circumstances”. Paul insists that “Muller can make good use of them” since the boots will be of no use to Kemmerich once he is dead. Paul can no longer feel the emotions that every individual feels such as sympathy, portraying that he is completely been dehumanized. The boots symbolize the cheapness of human life in war. A good pair of boots according to the soldiers is more valuable and more durable than a human life. The boots also show the attitude and emotions of soldiers as they are no longer sensitive or feel sad. Paul’s emotionless state shows how it affected his mentality “When a man has seen so many dead he cannot understand any longer why there should be so much anguish over a single individual” (Remarque 181). Upon seeing so many deaths Paul no longer
Soldiers who barely knew each other were thrust into extremely dangerous situations. At the onset of the novel Paul has a naive judgement about war however, that quickly changes as Paul witnesses bloodshed. Paul and his friend go to visit their comrade, Kemmerich, whose leg got amputated. All the soldiers including Paul were aware that there friend was on the brink of death. Instead of being concerned, Paul and the others worry about who will get Kemmerich’s boots, “But as it is the boots are quite inappropriate to Kemmerich’s circumstances, whereas Muller can make good use of them” (Remarque 21). Furthermore, the death of a fellow soldier doesn’t affect Paul and the others since they show no sympathy instead they are egoistic and obsessed with who will get the boots. Paul’s tone demonstrates that he no longer cares for his buddies but rather focuses on his own selfish desires. Paul’s emotions have vanished and he believes that the boots are “inappropriate to Kemmerich’s circumstances”. Paul insists that “Muller can make good use of them” since the boots will be of no use to Kemmerich once he is dead. Paul can no longer feel the emotions that every individual feels such as sympathy, portraying that he is completely been dehumanized. The boots symbolize the cheapness of human life in war. A good pair of boots according to the soldiers is more valuable and more durable than a human life. The boots also show the attitude and emotions of soldiers as they are no longer sensitive or feel sad. Paul’s emotionless state shows how it affected his mentality “When a man has seen so many dead he cannot understand any longer why there should be so much anguish over a single individual” (Remarque 181). Upon seeing so many deaths Paul no longer