Characterization Essay

Imagine being pressured into doing something you don’t like or agree with. Something you despise and from which you take no advantage. Something that goes against your human instinct. For Paul, that something was to participate in a war. In All Quiet on the Western Front by German author Erich Maria Remarque, we learn about the experiences of young soldiers during the First World War. Their everyday situations and thoughts develop throughout the book and create a picture of how it really was during this tough and devastating time. The novel gives a sense of what the soldiers went through, even though it’s something individuals can only truly understand if they go through it. Paul, the main character of the book, is an independent, compassionate and intelligent man. As the men go through training and experience their first battle, they realize that emotional investment doesn’t suit the lifestyle of a soldier. When going into war, one can only rely on themselves to survive. When stating “We were all at once terribly alone; and alone we must see it through” (Remarque 12) Paul acknowledges the loneliness one must go through in order to mentally survive the war, because if you make too strong connections with someone losing them might hurt you more than a bullet. That is proved towards the end, when Paul finds himself alone having lost almost every person significant to him in the war.
While returning to his home during his leave, the relationship between Paul and his mother has changed. He no longer lets her take care of him like she used to. As she tries to comfort him, Paul makes a great effort to deny his mother’s love in order to maintain his calm appearance. “Ah, Mother, Mother! Why do I not take you in my arms and die with you. What poor wretches we are!” (Remarque 183) in saying this, Paul rejects his mother’s love and comforting. He feels as if he’s better off acting like he can handle everything alone. The truth is that all he wants to do is leave everything behind and stay in the arms of his mother. He wants to be comforted and taken care of, like when he was a child. Though, that’s not what he does. Instead he pushes her worries away and denies them, in order to continue his act of independence and maturity. The intelligence that was once useful in school proofs to be useless in the front. Everything the boys had learned about math and French mean nothing when they’re faced with a bombardment and have to use their new knowledge in order to survive. In saying “At first astonished, then embittered, and finally indifferent, we recognized that what matters is not the mind but the boot brush, not intelligence but the system, not freedom but drill” (Remarque 22) Paul shows his change in intelligence. What he learned in school has no value anymore. The only intelligence that is necessary to him is what the army has taught him, which has nothing to do with solving mathematical equations or practicing French verbs. It’s rather about how to survive, and what Paul has to do in order to please the army. His definition of intelligence changed along with the war. When coming across the opportunity, Paul would sacrifice something that used to carry value in order to get new equipment. Along with this, Paul becomes ambiguous and his humane side weakens. As Paul says “Only the facts are real and important for us. And good boots are scarce” (Remarque 21) he shows what has now gained value, which is good protection and skills. That he is indifferent towards people, but undeniably desperate for the materialistics, such as the boots. Even though the war has scarred his humanity, Paul has moments when he becomes compassionate and sympathetic. One night, Paul and his fellow comrade Kat cook a goose under an open fire. After eating for a while Paul says:”How would it be, Kat if we took a bit to Kropp and Tjaden?” (Remarque 96) By giving his friends pieces of food, when they already have very little of it, Paul shows compassion to his fellow comrades.
Paul has a moment of realization where he thinks “Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony- Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?” (Remarque 223) He realizes that his true enemies aren’t the people he’s killing, and fighting; it’s the army and the people telling him to kill others when they’re all equal to him. It doesn’t feel right anymore to end the lives of soldiers who have feelings, just as he does. As the novel progresses, Paul shows qualities of independence by rejecting the comforting of his mother and in his pursuit of going his own path. Although rarely, Paul puts away his masculine and brave side to show qualities of compassion. When in need, he always helps his friends and fellow comrades. He looks out for them, and treats them as if they were family. He comes to the devastating conclusion that the people he’s fighting against aren’t his true enemies; the generals and officers commanding and forcing him to fight them are. He’s just a citizen fulfilling his duty, as are everyone else in the battles. A new intelligence has taken the place of the knowledge he previously learned during his academic life. What he used to know and like has no value anymore. The poems he used to so passionately adore don’t carry meaning when he’s standing in the front, fighting for his life. All of these qualities make up to the courageous, kind and clever fighting warrior; Paul Baümer.