In Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, the most prominent symbol are Kemmerich’s boots. The boots symbolize more than one aspect in the novel, which develops into major theme. The footwear can symbolize death, the sacrifice of emotions during war, and cheapness of life in the battlefield. Once the soldier Kemmerich dies, his boots are taken and worn by Müller, then worn by Paul, the protagonist of the story. Müller’s time with the boots were short and dies painfully. When Paul wore them, he was killed at the end of the novel. Whoever wore the boots were killed in spite of the protection they gave. Soldiers had to get used to these deaths. In war, soldiers must prioritize their survival over everything else. Müller
