Would you agree with this? yes? no? why?

Question

ok so this book is called "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Remarque and I was wondering would you agree with this paragraph (i know its badly written)

Comrades is something soldiers all have in the Army. During battle soldiers need to make sure that other comrades of theirs watch their back and protect one another. No matter where you are or what the situation is, someone always needs a friend(s) that they can count on. And in the war if a soldier didn't have any friends then they would be lonely. This theme is illustrated by Paul along with his comrades scavenging for food and making sure that they enemy doesn't spot them. They trust each other enough that they will do whatever it takes to protect each other.

What did you think of that?

P.S : Do you think I answered the question right?

"What is the author asserting to readers about human nature? and How is this theme implied or illustrated?

Answer 1

I read that book a while back and had to answer a very similar question.

I wrote about the struggle with human nature the soldiers face while in these terrible situations. They are seeing their comrades die daily, constantly fearing they may be blown up at any minute, wondering when the war will end and living in filthy and unhealthy conditions. It is human instinct to want to attach yourself to something during such a dire time... to make friends, to have someone to talk and relate to. However, the fact that they are stripped of these people and these connections almost daily has forced the soldiers to have to detach themselves from their feelings. If they do not develop these bonds then they do not hurt as much when they are ripped away. The war causes emotional detachment and a detachment from their own identity. They do hold bonds regardless and they have a very intense relationship with each other so actually separating themselves from something like is near impossible. I wrote about that struggle, the decision to have or not have your heart fully in it. The issue of desensitization and disconnection. I think that is illustrated through out the book, especially in the part where the first thing the soldiers think of when they lose one of the comrades is who gets his shoes.

I hope this helps you a bit, good luck!

Answer 2

I did twenty in the military and will tell you one thing. Always have someone at your back you can trust because your life is in his hands.