I soon found out this much:– terror can be endured so
long as a man simply ducks;–but it kills, if a man thinks
about it. (All Quiet on the Western Front, 138)
Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front works to disassemble a multitude of war myths and supposed glories. The brave soldier who charges an enemy trench is not impenetrable as the embellished stories tell. For the common man to survive, he must learn to adapt to battle, to “duck” and dodge oncoming dangers while being brave when necessary and practical. If a soldier stops to consider the greater meanings of the conflict and its impact on the men involved, he will momentarily lose the survival instincts that navigate a man safely through battle. In All Quiet, Paul Baumer comes to realize this danger which has been a widespread flaw in the characters of numerous war literature works like Hamlet and The Red Badge of Courage, and this knowledge guides him through the war.
Man is truly in a natural state when at war due to his innate behaviors and aggression, but his high level of analysis of different circumstances often causes him to ignore these instincts and consider the situation with reasoning and sound judgment. It is precisely this reasoning that initiates a lapse in instinctual behavior and jeopardizes the safety of the man. For instance, if Paul were raiding a seemingly weak stretch of English trench with his company when a line of enemy soldiers emerged with bayonets at the ready, prepared to maul the sprinting Germans, hesitation would be deadly. The continuation of the charge could be potentially suicidal but may also yield a victory and the safety of many Germans while a retreat would save most of the men. Hesitation, however, would be a deadly mistake. Not only would the men be exposed in No Man’s Land for a considerable amount of time, but options would rapidly diminish. The enemy would be aware of the Germans’ location in the field, so a second charge would be defeated, and the men could not safely reach their own trenches. No matter if the men decide to continue the charge or retreat, the instinct which tells them which path to follow is crucial to obey.
In a less physical sense, Paul Baumer’s catharsis is equally applicable to the consideration of mankind’s and the individual’s place in the war and his response to the conflict. Man, in literature, tends to often overanalyze the implications of war. In The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming experiences a mental battle as he attempts to reconcile his performance in battle with the glorified, expected behavior of a heroic figure. He throws down his rifle and runs as if “Death [was] about to thrust him between the shoulder blades” after just the second engagement with rebel forces. He was taught about the Greek men who were ordered by their wives to either return with their shields or be carried on one, meaning that a hero must fight no matter the danger and must die honorably. Henry undergoes psychological torment in concocting an excuse for his cowardice. His initial decision to flee the battle was undoubtedly caused by his excessive thought on the subject of his bravery and whether he would hold firm or run when faced with his first taste of battle. He planted doubt in his abilities and bravery, ultimately costing him his pride. Shakespeare’s Hamlet investigates a similar dilemma. Hamlet, determined to gain revenge on his father’s murderer, Claudius, seeks an opportunity to slay the present king. Hamlet, however, is plagued by hesitation and over analysis. Upon finding Claudius praying alone and vulnerable to an attack, Hamlet begins to weigh the consequences. He finally concludes that to kill Claudius while praying would send the king to heaven while Claudius condemned old Hamlet to damnation by killing him with Hamlet’s sins still unforgiven. While Hamlet potentially has reached a valid argument, his hesitation and waste of opportunities is indicative of his excessive thought and lack of action. In the end, Hamlet kills Claudius but is killed himself, a result that may have been avoided by using strong, direct action and ignoring countering notions created by his own mind.
Paul Baumer, an experienced veteran, understands the nature of war. When the young recruits are assigned to his company, Paul and the others must teach them that war is not as it is portrayed in history books or political speeches and demonstrations. War is an innate part of nature, an entity in which animals and humans participate alike. A man must submit to the ways of war and cast off human behavior like critical reasoning and delay in action to more fully comprehend a set of circumstances. War is natural and thus must be approached in a natural, instinctual mode in order to survive.
Literature of War STC 