All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque | Chapter 2

Summary

In Chapter 2 of *All Quiet on the Western Front*, Paul reflects on the deep disconnect between what he and his friends learned in school and the brutal realities of war. The older soldiers have homes to return to, while Paul and his comrades feel like they have nothing but the war. Under the harsh discipline of Corporal Himmelstoss, they bond through shared hardship. The emotional toll of the war becomes evident as Paul grapples with his feelings, especially when a fellow soldier, Kemmerich, dies. The psychological cost of war, symbolized by the loss of innocence, is explored throughout.

Takeaways

• 😀 Paul reflects on the stark contrast between his pre-war life, where he wrote poetry and plays, and the harsh realities of war.
• 😀 Paul and his friends quickly realize that the education they received in school is irrelevant in the face of war.
• 😀 Older soldiers in the war have families and established lives to return to, while Paul and his peers feel they have nothing outside of the war.
• 😀 Paul and his comrades see themselves as a 'wasteland' with no future beyond the trenches.
• 😀 Corporal Himmelstoss is portrayed as a harsh disciplinarian who punishes the soldiers, making them endure grueling tasks.
• 😀 Despite their dislike for Himmelstoss, the harsh training helps the soldiers bond as comrades and prepares them for the rigors of trench warfare.
• 😀 Paul witnesses the emotional toll of war, particularly when he comforts his friend Kemmerich, who has lost his leg and is facing death.
• 😀 Kemmerich's death affects Paul deeply, especially because he has known him for a long time and it represents the loss of their shared past.
• 😀 Paul experiences a psychological struggle as he tries to maintain his humanity while also surviving in the brutal environment of war.
• 😀 The concept of 'shell shock' (PTSD) is introduced as an emerging psychological trauma that soldiers like Paul experience during the war.
• 😀 After Kemmerich's death, Paul is struck by the mechanical and endless cycle of death and injury, where one soldier is replaced by another almost immediately.

Q & A

What does Paul reflect on in Chapter 2 of *All Quiet on the Western Front*?

Paul reflects on how strange it seems that, before joining the war, he wrote poetry and plays. However, he and his friends quickly realize that what they learned in school did nothing to prepare them for the realities of war.

How do Paul and his friends feel about returning home after the war?

Paul and his friends feel disconnected from the idea of home because, unlike the older soldiers who have established lives with families and jobs, they are too young to have such connections. They feel they have nothing to return to if they survive.

What does Paul mean by 'we have become a wasteland' during training?

Paul suggests that the brutal experience of war has drained them emotionally and psychologically, leaving them feeling like a 'wasteland,' unable to reconnect with the world they once knew.

Who is Corporal Himmelstoß, and what role does he play in the story?

Corporal Himmelstoß is an extremely strict disciplinarian who oversees Paul’s platoon during training. He punishes the soldiers to the point of exhaustion, and although he is disliked by the men, his harsh methods help prepare them for the harsh realities of war.

How do Paul and his comrades cope with Himmelstoß's punishment?

Paul and his comrades, especially Kropp, try to defy Himmelstoß as best they can while still following his orders. Their shared resentment towards him ultimately helps them bond as comrades.

How does Paul react to Kemmerich's injury and death?

Paul tries to comfort Kemmerich, who is lucid and aware of his lost leg. He is moved by Kemmerich's dejection and later makes a commitment to write to Kemmerich's mother to inform her of his death.

What is the significance of Paul giving Kemmerich's boots to Müller?

Paul gives Kemmerich's boots to Müller after Kemmerich dies, symbolizing the brutal reality of survival in the war. The boots, a necessary item for survival, are passed on to another soldier, showing the constant cycle of life and death in the trenches.

How does the medical staff respond to Paul’s attempt to find help for Kemmerich?

When Paul seeks a doctor for Kemmerich, he is brushed off, and the doctor sends an orderly to take care of him instead. The orderly reveals that 16 soldiers have already died that day, illustrating the overwhelming scale of the casualties.

What emotional challenge does Paul face throughout the novel?

Paul struggles with the emotional toll of war, particularly the challenge of surviving without completely disconnecting from his feelings. This inner conflict is central to his psychological journey throughout the novel.

How does the theme of 'shell shock' (later known as PTSD) play into the story?

The novel touches on the psychological disturbance of 'shell shock,' which predates what we now call PTSD. Even though Paul appears desensitized to much of the violence and death around him, he is deeply affected by moments like Kemmerich’s death, showing how the war traumatizes the soldiers emotionally and mentally.