More than 65 million men from 60 countries fought in World War I, a war between the Allies and the Central Powers. The German army enlisted approximately two million eight hundred thousand soldiers to fight for the Central Powers. One of those men, convinced by his schoolmaster Kantorek to enlist as the patriotic thing to do, was a nineteen-year-old student named Paul Baumer. Paul encountered many hardships during his time on the front. Despite these hardships, in the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque, the author, depicted Paul as a lucky, impartial and brotherly solider. These characteristics aided Paul as he watched others suffer and die while he stood by and chance alone kept him alive. Paul Baumer’s luckiness
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Paul treats all soldiers equally regardless for which side they are fighting. His opinions towards others are neutral. Paul realizes he is impartial when he encounters the Russian prisoners. This is where Paul explains his emotion towards them by stating, "If I could know more of them, what their names are, how they live, what they are waiting for, what their burdens are, then my emotion would have an object and might become sympathy."(193). Paul believes that getting to know his enemies on a more personal level would lead to greater sympathy due to a deeper connection. This is a big turning point for Paul because he concludes that the Russian prisoners are no different from him. He believes that the prisoners are only doing what is expected of them, fighting for their country, as is he. Another event where Paul shows his impartiality is when he kills a man who jumps into his shell hole. Paul instinctively feels t it is either kill or be killed. Yet, this event triggers him to ponder why he needs to kill men who are just like him. Paul says to the man he just stabbed, "I did not want to kill you...you were only an idea to me before...but now...I see you are a man like me"(176). This brings Paul to believe that the war kills innocent people. Paul sympathizing with the prisoners and devastated by his first close-range kill shows his
Paul treats all soldiers equally regardless for which side they are fighting. His opinions towards others are neutral. Paul realizes he is impartial when he encounters the Russian prisoners. This is where Paul explains his emotion towards them by stating, "If I could know more of them, what their names are, how they live, what they are waiting for, what their burdens are, then my emotion would have an object and might become sympathy."(193). Paul believes that getting to know his enemies on a more personal level would lead to greater sympathy due to a deeper connection. This is a big turning point for Paul because he concludes that the Russian prisoners are no different from him. He believes that the prisoners are only doing what is expected of them, fighting for their country, as is he. Another event where Paul shows his impartiality is when he kills a man who jumps into his shell hole. Paul instinctively feels t it is either kill or be killed. Yet, this event triggers him to ponder why he needs to kill men who are just like him. Paul says to the man he just stabbed, "I did not want to kill you...you were only an idea to me before...but now...I see you are a man like me"(176). This brings Paul to believe that the war kills innocent people. Paul sympathizing with the prisoners and devastated by his first close-range kill shows his