Reading through the first 5 chapters of AQWF was shocking and emotional to say the least. I had heard good things about the novel from classmates and peers, but I didn’t expect it to be so haunting. These chapters made me reflect a lot on the theme of humanity, especially tying in to our discussions last class. It’s even more noticeable when Paul and his classmates’ youth is brought up. The comparisons Paul makes between the fair-headed boy and Kemmerich make me notice this. On page 74, Remarque writes, “It falls on our heads and on the heads of the dead up in the line, on the body of the little recruit with the would that is so much too big for his hip; it falls on Kemmerich’s grave’ it falls in our hearts.”
The emphasis Remarque makes on the soldier’s ages, how they are both so incredibly young but have gone through events more tragic than many of their elders, really hits the reader in the heart.
While the audience feels the sorrow and grief of what these soldiers are going through, we also see the characters force themselves through, not processing the tragedies occurring as there isn’t enough time. The sheer amount of devastation and loss isn’t able to be comprehended. There are so many moments where they simply acknowledge what happened, whether it’s injury or death, and quickly move on.