It was not an option; an enemy soldier had fallen on him, he had to do it. In the war novel; All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, main character Paul Baumer stabs an enemy soldier. Personally, this scene was very gruesome, and heartbreaking. I feel the author was trying to get the point across that war is a terrible thing. She tried to make you feel badly for the dying man, and his family.
Paul and his friends; Muller, Kropp, and Leer, are all German soldiers presented to the army by their school teacher. The boys are only twenty years of age, fighting on the Western Front in World War I. The men become engaged in a serious firefight, and an enemy soldier fell into the same shell-hole as Paul. Immediately, Paul pulls out his knife and stabs the enemy in defense. After getting his first kill in close combat, Paul is stunned and starts feeling guilty. The man is violently convulsing on the ground, but Paul is in a state of shock, and cannot put him out of his misery. Once Paul regains his composure, he goes over to the now still man, and looks at his identification; he has a wife and a young child.
This scene was very powerful because of the descriptions made by the author. It made me feel angry, sad, and sympathetic. It ever more supported my opinions about war. It made me feel like war is useless, because in the end most of the conflicts that caused the war to start remain unsolved.
All Quiet on the Western Front is a disturbing war novel, but sends a strong message.
Paul and his friends; Muller, Kropp, and Leer, are all German soldiers presented to the army by their school teacher. The boys are only twenty years of age, fighting on the Western Front in World War I. The men become engaged in a serious firefight, and an enemy soldier fell into the same shell-hole as Paul. Immediately, Paul pulls out his knife and stabs the enemy in defense. After getting his first kill in close combat, Paul is stunned and starts feeling guilty. The man is violently convulsing on the ground, but Paul is in a state of shock, and cannot put him out of his misery. Once Paul regains his composure, he goes over to the now still man, and looks at his identification; he has a wife and a young child.
This scene was very powerful because of the descriptions made by the author. It made me feel angry, sad, and sympathetic. It ever more supported my opinions about war. It made me feel like war is useless, because in the end most of the conflicts that caused the war to start remain unsolved.
All Quiet on the Western Front is a disturbing war novel, but sends a strong message.
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