Why Fight? (All Quiet on the Western Front Chapters 7-9)

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Welcome back to Anna Kathleen's Bodacious Book Briefings!  I'm excited to have you join me for my fourth post in this series on the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.  If you missed my first three posts, I encourage you to go check them out!  This week I will be briefing you on chapters seven, eight, and nine.  We will be focusing on the purpose and effects of war.  Ultimately, we will be trying to answer the question "Why?"

Purpose of the War

In chapter nine, the Kaiser comes to inspect the troops.  They are all given nice, new uniforms and are taken through drills as though they were back at base camp in preparation for his arrival.  The Kaiser comes, does his inspection, and moves on.  After the Kaiser leaves, the soldiers begin speculating about things.  The conversation starts with Albert asking, "whether there would not have been a war if the Kaiser had said No."  They then begin the intriguing factor that there country portrays themselves as the good guys, yet the other side portrays themselves as the good guys.  The conversation eventually gets to discussing the purpose of the war.  Tjaden wants to know just how a war gets started and the boys decide that it the reason the war is being fought really has nothing to do with them.  So, what really is the purpose?  Why are they fighting?

Effects of the War

Last week I examined how the horrors of war can effect soldiers.  We talked about examples from the book as well as post traumatic stress disorder, a psychological disorder.  Affects seem to be a reoccurring theme in this book.  So, this week we will once again look at how was can effect soldiers as well as adding on the topic of how war can effect soldiers' families.

One of the biggest things that haunts these soldiers is seeing their comrades and friends die.  As Paul goes through the list of friends lost he also wonders what will happen to himself.  On page 139 he says, "But our comrades are dead, we cannnot help them, they have their rest -- and who knows what is waiting for us?...Life is short."  Again, in chapter nine, we see death effecting Paul.  But, this time, the death is one that he caused.  As a French soldier stumbles into the trench he is in, Paul reacts quickly, stabbing the man.  Later, as he lies there, watching the soldier die, Paul feels a deep sense of regret.

Paul gets the opportunity to go home in these chapters, and the reader is able to see how leave may haunt him worst of all.  Paul comes home to a very sick mother and a father and sister who are struggling to provide and care for the family.  Paul's mother worries greatly for him, and Paul feels obliged to lie, saying that everything will be okay.  But will it?  As Paul says on page 140,
"And this I know:  All these things that now, while we are still in the war, sink down in us like a stone, after the war shall waken again, and then shall begin the disentanglement of life and death."

The Big Question: Why?

So, we see all these affects, all of the pain, and we also discover that the soldiers see little reason why they even need to be involved in this war.  So, why?   Is it for glory?  Honor?  Duty to country?  Or, do these boys merely fight because they have no other choice.  Why?

Sources

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/why-do-we-walk-the-camino-de-santiago/
https://canva.com
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/larry_king_595934

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 12, 2018 at 10:55 AM

    Overall, this week's reflection was a great analysis of this weeks readings. I really enjoy how you started your reflection as if this was a genuine blog. Also, one thing you pointed out that I never really thought about was the idea that the Kaiser prompted the question of the purpose for the war. I also might have added that the characters were unimpressed with the Kaiser. To even further your point, you could have possibly included how all the new uniforms and treatment they were receiving in preparation for the Kaiser was all taken away from he left.

    In your blog, you discuss how the soldiers felt as if they were not fighting a war that they started which is a great point. The soldiers feel as if they are fighting the war that the Kaiser has prompted and they question why. This was a great connection that could have been made even better if you linked it to the soldiers in the civil war. You could have used the quote that derived from the civil war, "rich mans wage war, poor mans fight it." In this case rich and poor would have been more directed towards political status though rather than economic status.

    Including the regret that Paul felt following killing the French soldier was also a great point that helped strengthened the idea that fighting this war was unnecessary. The use of quotes was also a great tool.

    I haven't read your previous blogs, but this weeks was definitely very solid. Good analysis and great work!

    ReplyDelete

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