David M Colbert
Chapter 8 Review
Oct. 3, 2012
Chapter 8
The chapter begins with Paul’s
return from leave and his arrival at a training camp that he attended prior. His
return is marked with an odd feeling, Paul is now unacquainted with all the
people here stating that everything is from his previous visit is altered. He
becomes more estranged with his surroundings, and at the same time, takes heed
to interesting and reflective aspects of nature and humanity.
One of his first revelations is the
love of nature in his separation from people.
He notices, “when one is alone one begins to observe Nature and to love
her” (189). This reveals an interesting bit about the beauty of simplicity. Concordantly,
this shows that when one looks beyond the fabrications and complications of
humanity, i.e. war in this instance, a humble beauty is observable. It can be
derived that aside from our human conjurations lies a peaceful world without
war. It shows that this peace is disturbed only by us, the creators of it. All
in all, this moment acts as a window of clarity for Paul into a world so
covered by human interactions that it lives unnoticed a majority of the time.
This revealing
aspect of unnecessary complexities is furthermore expanded upon in the case of
the Russian soldiers in the nearby prison camp. Paul first takes notice of these
prisoners and begins to see their human qualities instead of their abstract
enemy-like qualities as advertised by the warmongering country leaders. As he
observes them, he remarks that they [prisoners] should be out apple picking
instead of being here, that they look as any kindly peasants of his hometown
(190). He begins to reflect upon the nature of war and the odd truths that
enable its existence. Paul takes notice
and remarks, “at some table a document is signed by some persons whom none of
us knows, and then for years together that very crime on which formerly the
world’s condemnation and severest penalty fall [killing], becomes our highest
aim” (194). This is the essence on the origin of war. Some stranger orders
condemnation of others then, sends others to fulfill this duty. He notices that
these individual people are less of enemies than to him than were his drill
instructors, or even his schoolmasters. He notices that they are merely people
doing the same thing he is for someone whom they were told to agree with—truly
an interesting concept.
All in
all, this chapter reveals to the reader that all these complexities and war
related events are merely abstractions created and upheld. This takes the
common man away from the earnest simplicities of life such as nature and
brotherhood, and shrouds it with chaos that stems from what? Other people we’ve
never met? Nonetheless, Paul pulls himself away from these inquisitive thoughts…
perhaps they were too close to truth.
“I am frightened: I dare think this way no more. This way lies the
abyss”.
Source:
Remarque, E. M. (2000). All quiet on the western front. (1st ed ed.). New York: The Random House Publishing Group.
