Summary:
In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, the main character, Paul Bäumer, is greatly affected by two minor characters in the story: Corporal Himmelstoss and soldier Franz Kemmerich.
What is war"
What is war? Some people may assume war only deals with violence between countries or opposing governments. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, war is "a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism." Therefore war is not only a physical element, but a mental element as well. War can include personal struggles within oneself, in addition to the effects of person relationships with others. In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, the main character, Paul Bäumer, is greatly affected by two minor characters in the story: Corporal Himmelstoss and soldier Franz Kemmerich.
Corporal Himmelstoss affects Paul and makes him mentally and physically tougher by disciplining Paul as a soldier, increasing his pain threshold, and helping him understand war. Most importantly, Himmelstoss teaches Paul to be a disciplined soldier. Early on in the novel we can see Paul's discipline through his personal thoughts. "We were all at once terribly alone; and alone we must see it through" (12). Paul is saying that war is a lonely place and it is up to the soldiers to personally save themselves by enduring the worst days of the war. It is Himmelstoss though, who teaches these men how to tolerate the unpleasant situations, even when they feel alone and afraid. Through Himmelstoss's constant demanding and yelling orders, he shows Paul how to bear the worst conditions and come through as a winner. With the previous comment, Paul proves his realization that although war is not easy at times, he needs to maintain tough physical condition and a tough mindset. In addition, Himmelstoss also help to increase Paul's pain threshold. Again, through Paul's thoughts, the reader can easily see that Paul has an admirable amount of determination to stay focused. "A terrible feeling of foreignness suddenly rises up in me. I cannot find my way back, I am shut out though I entreat earnestly and put forth all my strength" (176). Paul explains here that although enduring war is not simple and not always safe, he must continue and do the best he can, regardless of the situation and conditions. All throughout Paul's training, he has to endure what seemed to him like endless hours of ridiculous orders from Himmelstoss. For example, Himmelstoss forces his men to last long periods of time under extreme cold weather conditions without proper clothing protection, risking problems such as frostbite, that could eventually lead to the loss of a finger, hand, or other limb. This is Himmelstoss's way of flaunting his high power and rank among the lower, less worthy troops. At the time, Paul feels that this is a waste of time, following countless orders of a man who abused his power. In reality, though, these nonsense orders prepared Paul for enduring the longest, most violent and strenuous days of fighting in battle. Equally important, Himmelstoss helps Paul's understand war. Once again, the reader understands Paul's view of war through his personal reflection. "It's unendurable. It is the moaning of the world, it is the martyred creation, wild with anguish, filled with terror, and groaning" (62). Even though in this particular chapter, Paul is referring to the horrific sounds made by wounded horses, this can symbolize Paul's outlook on war. Paul realizes the horrors of war, understanding that there is so much unnecessary violence and tragedy. Himmselstoss had a hand in showing him these realities. Not only did Himmelstoss continuously abuse Paul and the other men with his brutal orders of repeating pointless training activities, but Himmelstoss also forces the men to see these realities at the front, when they are all actually fighting against their real enemies. Corporal Himmelstoss acts as a leader, and encourages his men to continue fighting. By pressuring the men to continue, they are faces with the unavoidable realities of tragic warfare.
By offering companionship, the soldier Franz Kemmerich inspires Paul through Kemmerich's early death, showing Paul the reality of war, and creating a remembrance through the symbolism of his boots. Most importantly, Kemmerich's early death inspires Paul. In his mind, Paul ponders the following during the final moments of Kemmerich's life. "The whole world ought to pass by this bed and say 'That is Franz Kemmerich, nineteen and a half years old, he doesn't want to die. Let him not die!' " (32). This thought right here prove how much Paul looks up to Kemmerich not only as a soldier, but as a friend as well. Throughout the novel, this plays a part in Paul's outlook on war. Because Paul has seen his own friend, a man from his own side of the front, Paul realizes that any point in time, anything can happen. This forces Paul to use Kemmerich as an inspiration to not take his own life for granted and to enjoy every day as if it was his last. In addition, Kemmerich shows Paul the reality of war. During a counter attack of a long battle, Paul reflects on his experiences with war. "We have lost all feeling for one another. We can hardly control ourselves when our hunted glance lights on the form of some other man. We are insensible, dead men, who through some trick, some dreadful magic, are still able to run and to kill" (115). Paul's thoughts explain how war mentally and physically drains the soldiers to the point where they barely know what is going on. This is similar to Paul's observations during Kemmerich's last moments alive. In both instances, Paul is shown how war is emotionally damaging war on people, whether it is in the middle of a crucial battle, or struggling to fight through a series of injuries and sicknesses on one's deathbed. In both examples, Paul sees horrors of war early on as a soldier, instead of taking his own life for granted and maintaining oblivion towards the reality of war. Equally important, Kemmerich creates a remembrance of his boots through symbolism. Early on in the novel the significance of the boots is summarized when Paul says, "We have lost all sense of other considerations, because they are artificial. Only the facts are real and important to us. And good boots are hard to come by" (25). The men ignore morals and "the right thing to do," which may be respecting the boots as the late Kemmerich's prized possession, rather than fighting over who gets ownership of the boots. Even so, the mere fact that the soldiers make such a big commotion over who has the right to the boots, makes Kemmerich live on in the minds of the men. Even though Muller initially receives possession of the boots, Paul eventually ends up with these boots. As the boots are passed down because of deaths and friendships, the soldiers, especially Paul, never lose sight of why they have the boots and how thankful they are to have such protection for their feet.
By making Paul Bäumer mentally and physically tougher and offering companionship, Corporal Himmelstoss and Kemmerich affect Paul, throughout Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front. In analyzing this novel, the concept of war can be interpreted in several different ways. Not only can war represent physical violence, but it can also involve personal relationships. Since war has already been defined earlier, the next question that arises is, "When does war end"" War as physical violence may never end permanently. But for now, however, the war of personal struggles within one's self is temporarily put to rest when it is "All quiet on the Western Front."
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