Pick two or three symbols in the novel and discuss their importance. (e.g. the boots, potato snacks)
6 comments:
Anonymous
said...
In "All Quiet on the Western Front," the two symbols that prove to be of the utmost significance are the rats and the fence, which separates the POW (prisoner of war) camp, from the German training camp. The rats, which invade the German bases, are of great importance, because they represent the French, Russian and British soldiers. Since Paul and his comrades are obligated to defend their country against the “enemy” they seek to it that the men are killed off, one by one – just like the rats. When the training camp becomes infested with the rodents, the young soldiers discover that their food is being stolen. Unquestionably, in order to survive under such harsh conditions, sustaining proper nutrition is mandatory. Like the rats, which take the soldiers’ food, the French, Russian and British soldiers are wrongfully trying to acquire German territory. Evidently, this war of imperial conquest is similar to that of the case regarding the rats. In both scenarios, the “enemy” is trying to take something that does not belong to them (food and land) which is originally, under German authority. Secondly, the fence, which serves to be the main reason, for the separation of the war prisoners and the German army, in an ideological sense, represents the war itself. When nations are in the midst of a feud, they are separated, and do not cooperate with one another. Therefore, the citizens of one country are prohibited from communicating to citizens from the rival nation. The fence in this case, is splitting humankind apart, for the Russian soldiers are separated from the Germans; but for what reason? Quite frankly, both the Russians and Germans are enduring the same amount of pain and suffering, while fighting for a cause that isn’t worth the lives of so many innocent men. In my eyes, both the rats and the fence are the most important symbols in this intricate novel, for they assist the readers in drawing connections and conclusions, when it comes to comprehending the importance of wartime brutality.
Manvir took the two main symbols.....However, there are more symbols present in "All Quiet on the Western Front" which are of equal or near equal importance as those already mentioned by Manvir. Without a doubt, I believe the books Paul Baumer came across when he went home on leave were a symbol of the childhood he once so jovially lived. As Paul stood in his former room searching through the bookshelf, he realized he no longer really had an interest in the books he came across. The fact that he can not channel his mind into enjoying them like he used to symbolizes his disconnection from his former self. From the moment he arrived back in his hometown, Paul had been trying to "get in the mood" and return to the good old times. But, as his disinterest in the books shows, Paul has changed in such dramatic ways that he no longer enjoys the things he used to. Another symbol present in the book was the poster Paul and his friends were looking at that displayed a pretty woman. To me, this poster symbolized not only their more earthly desires, but also the opportunities that await them when the war ends. For most people, a good life consists of economic success, free time, and definitely also a family. The beautiful woman they saw on the poster resembled some of the possibilities that awaited them, such as a loving wife. The poster symbolized the dreams they likely have every night as they try not to think about the horrible situation they are stuck in. Finally, I believe the soldier Paul killed in the shell-hole symbolizes everything Paul regrets having ever done. As the story has progressed, Paul has continued to develop stronger feelings against the senseless war they are caught up in. Killing this "enemy" and watching the innocent life in his eyes slowly fade away have truly changed Paul, to the point where he is 100% sure that this war is reckless nonsense. In this sense, the dead soldier symbolizes a mental revolution for Paul, who now has no doubt that what he is doing is wrong.
There are probably more significant and obvious symbols in “All Quiet in the Western Front.” But I feel that the symbolism that the poster that Paul sees and reflects upon has huge significance to the story, and shows how the characters have change throughout the book. Also I believe shell holes symbolizes a state of mind of the various characters and soldiers in the novel. When Paul and his companions see the poster of the Woman, it shows them about a time they once lived and now are deprived of. They look at it in marvel almost as if it were unfamiliar to them. From this we can tell how the war has changed the mere basic thoughts of Paul and his companions and how it revolves simply around the war. The only conversation they could stroke up about the poster was describing the clothing of the woman and stating how it would be impractical in a time of war. However, in the poster it also included a man, which allowed us to see how Paul and his companions wish they still had their old lives. This is shown when they are envying the man in the poster and tear his picture off delicately so that the woman remains. The poster symbolizes the lost youth of Paul and his companions. When Paul is on the frontlines the word shell holes is constantly used. But I believe that, other than being the name of a hole created after the impact of a projectile, which often fills with water. It symbolizes the state of mind of a soldier who cannot or is barely coping with the realities of the war. Basically, taking it to a more literal sense, the war leaves a hole in a soldier’s mind, which is then filled up with fear and doubt. This could be associated when soldiers are portrayed in the book to be cowering behind in the trench or a shell hole in the fetal position. And In a particular case we see Paul trapped alone in a shell hole isolated from any of his companions. Where he then becomes fearful and loses control over his emotions, because he is too reliant on the support of his comrades. He has a hole in his mind that keeps him from being a good soldier, which is being filled up with his fears.
In the story, 'All Quiet on the Western Front', Kemmerich's boots, and Bhem, can be seen as symbols of war. Kimmerich's boots symbolizes the soldiers' lost of innocence during the war, and how cheap life is compared to the nice boots. During a visit with Paul, Muller found Kemmerich's boots, and was more concerned about who would get the boots after Kemmerich's death, rather than concerning about his fellow comrade's injuries. Muller became selfish and could not care less about others, but himself. No matter how Paul tried to convince Kemmerich that Muller was only being reasonable, Muller has already lost his innocence to the war. Muller didn't care if Kemmerich was alive or not, all he wanted were those nice boots under Kemmerich's bed. Most likely, the war had changed Muller into a person that only cares, and protects himself, and made him lose his innocence. Another symbol would be Bhem. Bhem had died trying to craw back to the trenches, before anyone could save him. Nobody wanted that, and this made everyone realize the horror and the madness of war. Nobody could be blamed for Bhem's death, not even the upper officials that ordered the soldiers to battle, because they would never know what it was like to be at the front, and how horror can change one into another person completely.
Like Manvir said, the rats are examples of symbolism in this novel. They symbolized all the people that Paul and his fellow commerades had to fight and kill. The rats and the other soldiers are quite similar because they are both threatening the survival of Paul and his friends. By eating and taking away their food, they are leading Paul and his friends to starvation and death, not to mention the different diseases that the rats could bring them. By killing the rats, they were killing the enemies cause they thought it was necessary for their survival, which also meant the need to kill those soldiers from France and other opposing countries. I think another symbol is also his bed at home. When Paul got the chance to go home, there was a point where he was laying in his comfortable bed, and realized that it could be his last time being able to sleep in it. I think the bed symbolizes his home and his life. Even though he knew in his mind that his home and his bed are both better for him, he still feels a little uncomfortable, because he is so accustomed to the war life. Either way, no matter which he prefers, he is in no place to choose which bed he wants to sleep in, or which life he wants to lead, the war life or the normal life. Another symbol in this novel, are cigarettes. When guarding the Russian prisoners, Paul broke off half of his cigarette to share witht the prisoners. The cigarettes symbolizes the similarities that they share with each other. While they are each others enemies, and are in war against each other, the cigarettes symbolizes that they are still quite similar, leading unhealthy and dangerous lives. Usually, people smoke to relax, as if to take a little break from everything, in this case, they are taking a break from the war against each other.
6 comments:
In "All Quiet on the Western Front," the two symbols that prove to be of the utmost significance are the rats and the fence, which separates the POW (prisoner of war) camp, from the German training camp. The rats, which invade the German bases, are of great importance, because they represent the French, Russian and British soldiers. Since Paul and his comrades are obligated to defend their country against the “enemy” they seek to it that the men are killed off, one by one – just like the rats. When the training camp becomes infested with the rodents, the young soldiers discover that their food is being stolen. Unquestionably, in order to survive under such harsh conditions, sustaining proper nutrition is mandatory. Like the rats, which take the soldiers’ food, the French, Russian and British soldiers are wrongfully trying to acquire German territory. Evidently, this war of imperial conquest is similar to that of the case regarding the rats. In both scenarios, the “enemy” is trying to take something that does not belong to them (food and land) which is originally, under German authority. Secondly, the fence, which serves to be the main reason, for the separation of the war prisoners and the German army, in an ideological sense, represents the war itself. When nations are in the midst of a feud, they are separated, and do not cooperate with one another. Therefore, the citizens of one country are prohibited from communicating to citizens from the rival nation. The fence in this case, is splitting humankind apart, for the Russian soldiers are separated from the Germans; but for what reason? Quite frankly, both the Russians and Germans are enduring the same amount of pain and suffering, while fighting for a cause that isn’t worth the lives of so many innocent men. In my eyes, both the rats and the fence are the most important symbols in this intricate novel, for they assist the readers in drawing connections and conclusions, when it comes to comprehending the importance of wartime brutality.
Manvir took the two main symbols.....However, there are more symbols present in "All Quiet on the Western Front" which are of equal or near equal importance as those already mentioned by Manvir. Without a doubt, I believe the books Paul Baumer came across when he went home on leave were a symbol of the childhood he once so jovially lived. As Paul stood in his former room searching through the bookshelf, he realized he no longer really had an interest in the books he came across. The fact that he can not channel his mind into enjoying them like he used to symbolizes his disconnection from his former self. From the moment he arrived back in his hometown, Paul had been trying to "get in the mood" and return to the good old times. But, as his disinterest in the books shows, Paul has changed in such dramatic ways that he no longer enjoys the things he used to.
Another symbol present in the book was the poster Paul and his friends were looking at that displayed a pretty woman. To me, this poster symbolized not only their more earthly desires, but also the opportunities that await them when the war ends. For most people, a good life consists of economic success, free time, and definitely also a family. The beautiful woman they saw on the poster resembled some of the possibilities that awaited them, such as a loving wife. The poster symbolized the dreams they likely have every night as they try not to think about the horrible situation they are stuck in.
Finally, I believe the soldier Paul killed in the shell-hole symbolizes everything Paul regrets having ever done. As the story has progressed, Paul has continued to develop stronger feelings against the senseless war they are caught up in. Killing this "enemy" and watching the innocent life in his eyes slowly fade away have truly changed Paul, to the point where he is 100% sure that this war is reckless nonsense. In this sense, the dead soldier symbolizes a mental revolution for Paul, who now has no doubt that what he is doing is wrong.
There are probably more significant and obvious symbols in “All Quiet in the Western Front.” But I feel that the symbolism that the poster that Paul sees and reflects upon has huge significance to the story, and shows how the characters have change throughout the book. Also I believe shell holes symbolizes a state of mind of the various characters and soldiers in the novel.
When Paul and his companions see the poster of the Woman, it shows them about a time they once lived and now are deprived of. They look at it in marvel almost as if it were unfamiliar to them. From this we can tell how the war has changed the mere basic thoughts of Paul and his companions and how it revolves simply around the war. The only conversation they could stroke up about the poster was describing the clothing of the woman and stating how it would be impractical in a time of war. However, in the poster it also included a man, which allowed us to see how Paul and his companions wish they still had their old lives. This is shown when they are envying the man in the poster and tear his picture off delicately so that the woman remains. The poster symbolizes the lost youth of Paul and his companions.
When Paul is on the frontlines the word shell holes is constantly used. But I believe that, other than being the name of a hole created after the impact of a projectile, which often fills with water. It symbolizes the state of mind of a soldier who cannot or is barely coping with the realities of the war. Basically, taking it to a more literal sense, the war leaves a hole in a soldier’s mind, which is then filled up with fear and doubt. This could be associated when soldiers are portrayed in the book to be cowering behind in the trench or a shell hole in the fetal position. And In a particular case we see Paul trapped alone in a shell hole isolated from any of his companions. Where he then becomes fearful and loses control over his emotions, because he is too reliant on the support of his comrades. He has a hole in his mind that keeps him from being a good soldier, which is being filled up with his fears.
In the story, 'All Quiet on the Western Front', Kemmerich's boots, and Bhem, can be seen as symbols of war. Kimmerich's boots symbolizes the soldiers' lost of innocence during the war, and how cheap life is compared to the nice boots. During a visit with Paul, Muller found Kemmerich's boots, and was more concerned about who would get the boots after Kemmerich's death, rather than concerning about his fellow comrade's injuries. Muller became selfish and could not care less about others, but himself. No matter how Paul tried to convince Kemmerich that Muller was only being reasonable, Muller has already lost his innocence to the war. Muller didn't care if Kemmerich was alive or not, all he wanted were those nice boots under Kemmerich's bed. Most likely, the war had changed Muller into a person that only cares, and protects himself, and made him lose his innocence. Another symbol would be Bhem. Bhem had died trying to craw back to the trenches, before anyone could save him. Nobody wanted that, and this made everyone realize the horror and the madness of war. Nobody could be blamed for Bhem's death, not even the upper officials that ordered the soldiers to battle, because they would never know what it was like to be at the front, and how horror can change one into another person completely.
Like Manvir said, the rats are examples of symbolism in this novel. They symbolized all the people that Paul and his fellow commerades had to fight and kill. The rats and the other soldiers are quite similar because they are both threatening the survival of Paul and his friends. By eating and taking away their food, they are leading Paul and his friends to starvation and death, not to mention the different diseases that the rats could bring them. By killing the rats, they were killing the enemies cause they thought it was necessary for their survival, which also meant the need to kill those soldiers from France and other opposing countries.
I think another symbol is also his bed at home. When Paul got the chance to go home, there was a point where he was laying in his comfortable bed, and realized that it could be his last time being able to sleep in it. I think the bed symbolizes his home and his life. Even though he knew in his mind that his home and his bed are both better for him, he still feels a little uncomfortable, because he is so accustomed to the war life. Either way, no matter which he prefers, he is in no place to choose which bed he wants to sleep in, or which life he wants to lead, the war life or the normal life.
Another symbol in this novel, are cigarettes. When guarding the Russian prisoners, Paul broke off half of his cigarette to share witht the prisoners. The cigarettes symbolizes the similarities that they share with each other. While they are each others enemies, and are in war against each other, the cigarettes symbolizes that they are still quite similar, leading unhealthy and dangerous lives. Usually, people smoke to relax, as if to take a little break from everything, in this case, they are taking a break from the war against each other.
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