Paul Bäumer’s Humanity in All Quiet on the Western Front
In All Quiet on the Western Front, there are a multitude of events with the potential to rid Paul Bäumer of his humanity. The nature of his humanity becomes evident through his consideration of his comrades and his adversaries. Many times during the course of the novel, Paul reflects on his inhumane behavior in the war and recognizes the cause of his actions. Also, Paul consistently shows warmth in his communication with people close to him. Additionally, he comes to view his enemies without dehumanizing them. Paul Bäumer maintains his humanity throughout All Quiet on the Western Front. Paul’s interactions with his close ones exemplify his loving nature and humanity. …show more content…
Notably, he refuses to dehumanization his enemies, even while on the front lines. “I raise my hand, but I cannot throw into those strange eyes [of the enemy Frenchman]” (102). Paul realizes that throwing a grenade can kill another human being who is just like himself, and so he hesitates on whether to throw one at the French soldiers. He chooses to do so only due to the necessity of survival. Furthermore, Paul treats the Russian prisoners in a similar fashion to how he treats people of his own kind, that is to say in a kind and friendly manner. “It is strange to see these enemies of ours so close up. They have faces that make one think” (167). Paul provides these needy prisoners with cigarettes and part of his rations, as opposed to some of the other soldiers who treat them inhumanely. Furthermore, he plays piano alongside some Russian prisoners who play the violin. After killing an enemy Frenchman with his own hand, Gerald Duval, Paul is filled with regret and guilt, as he attempts to comfort Gerald while he is dieing. “‘Comrade, I did not want to kill you…But you were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. It was that abstraction I stabbed. But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me’” (195). Bäumer identifies that his enemies have a great deal of similarities to him, and
In All Quiet on the Western Front, there are a multitude of events with the potential to rid Paul Bäumer of his humanity. The nature of his humanity becomes evident through his consideration of his comrades and his adversaries. Many times during the course of the novel, Paul reflects on his inhumane behavior in the war and recognizes the cause of his actions. Also, Paul consistently shows warmth in his communication with people close to him. Additionally, he comes to view his enemies without dehumanizing them. Paul Bäumer maintains his humanity throughout All Quiet on the Western Front. Paul’s interactions with his close ones exemplify his loving nature and humanity. …show more content…
Notably, he refuses to dehumanization his enemies, even while on the front lines. “I raise my hand, but I cannot throw into those strange eyes [of the enemy Frenchman]” (102). Paul realizes that throwing a grenade can kill another human being who is just like himself, and so he hesitates on whether to throw one at the French soldiers. He chooses to do so only due to the necessity of survival. Furthermore, Paul treats the Russian prisoners in a similar fashion to how he treats people of his own kind, that is to say in a kind and friendly manner. “It is strange to see these enemies of ours so close up. They have faces that make one think” (167). Paul provides these needy prisoners with cigarettes and part of his rations, as opposed to some of the other soldiers who treat them inhumanely. Furthermore, he plays piano alongside some Russian prisoners who play the violin. After killing an enemy Frenchman with his own hand, Gerald Duval, Paul is filled with regret and guilt, as he attempts to comfort Gerald while he is dieing. “‘Comrade, I did not want to kill you…But you were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. It was that abstraction I stabbed. But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me’” (195). Bäumer identifies that his enemies have a great deal of similarities to him, and