Paul Baumer Character Analysis, All Quiet on The Western Front.
Paul Baumer Paper
World War I was one of the bloodiest wars with over 31 million deaths, wounded, and missing people. It took place from 1914- 1919 against the Allies and the Central powers. One of the greatest books that show the truth of the war is _All Quiet on the Western Front_. The main character in the novel, Paul, is a German soldier who is only19 years old when he volunteers. Paul is a hopeless, brave, caring soldier who is still trying to figure out who he is.
Through out the novel Paul shows that he is a caring soldier. He shows how caring he is when Kat was shot in the leg while bringing food and Paul being the caring person risked his own life to save his goof friend Kat. This shows Paul is caring because if Paul had not come to help him, no one would have come, but Paul cared too much. Paul saving Kat was something only a relative of Kat would do what Paul did: The orderly is mystified, "you are not related are you?" "No we are not related. No we are not related." (291) This passage shows how he as caring as a relative would be. Another example of how caring he is, occurred when he killed the French printer, Gerard Duval. After he killed a man with his own hands he realized that he wasn 't completely dead, but slowly dying. He felt that even though they were enemies he should try to save the life he just killed: "He gulps it down. I fetch some more. Then I unbutton his tunic in order to bandage him if it is possible in any case I must do it." (220) It shows he is caring because knowing that he was the enemy, other soldiers wouldn 't try to save him. These are just a few of the times where he shows a caring behavior.
Paul also demonstrates the characteristic of hopelessness. It shows most when Mueller asked the question "What will you do when peace time comes?"(76) Paul realizes then that Paul and his friends have nothing to come back to. The older soldiers have a wife and job waiting for them at home, but the war is all the boys have and know. Paul
World War I was one of the bloodiest wars with over 31 million deaths, wounded, and missing people. It took place from 1914- 1919 against the Allies and the Central powers. One of the greatest books that show the truth of the war is _All Quiet on the Western Front_. The main character in the novel, Paul, is a German soldier who is only19 years old when he volunteers. Paul is a hopeless, brave, caring soldier who is still trying to figure out who he is.
Through out the novel Paul shows that he is a caring soldier. He shows how caring he is when Kat was shot in the leg while bringing food and Paul being the caring person risked his own life to save his goof friend Kat. This shows Paul is caring because if Paul had not come to help him, no one would have come, but Paul cared too much. Paul saving Kat was something only a relative of Kat would do what Paul did: The orderly is mystified, "you are not related are you?" "No we are not related. No we are not related." (291) This passage shows how he as caring as a relative would be. Another example of how caring he is, occurred when he killed the French printer, Gerard Duval. After he killed a man with his own hands he realized that he wasn 't completely dead, but slowly dying. He felt that even though they were enemies he should try to save the life he just killed: "He gulps it down. I fetch some more. Then I unbutton his tunic in order to bandage him if it is possible in any case I must do it." (220) It shows he is caring because knowing that he was the enemy, other soldiers wouldn 't try to save him. These are just a few of the times where he shows a caring behavior.
Paul also demonstrates the characteristic of hopelessness. It shows most when Mueller asked the question "What will you do when peace time comes?"(76) Paul realizes then that Paul and his friends have nothing to come back to. The older soldiers have a wife and job waiting for them at home, but the war is all the boys have and know. Paul
Cited: Remarque, Erich Maria. _All Quiet on the Western Front_. New York: Ballantine, 1982. Print.