"I see their dark forms, their beards move in the wind. I know nothing of them except that they are prisoners; and that is exactly what troubles me. Their life is obscure and guiltless; if I could know more of them, what their names are, how they live, what they are waiting for, what their burdens are, then my emotions would have an object and might become sympathy... A word of command has made these silent figures our enemies; a word of command might transform them into our friends." (p. 193-194)
I though this passage on the Russian prisoners gave insight into both the experience of a soldier and the aim of the novel as a whole. As a soldier, men are classified into allies and enemies. But it is apparent that these Russian enemies are simply soldiers like the Germans, "just as kindly as our own peasants in Friesland." (p. 190) Yet these classifications, to Paul arbitrary, are held up by barriers, both physical (the fence) and non-physical (language, self-preservation/greed). It is harder to shoot at a man with a name and a background than it is to shoot at a "dark form" whom you know nothing about.
The following link is to an article that talks about how the dehumanization of people makes war more publicly acceptable.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1442
http://publicintelligence.net/the-u-s-militarys-video-game-training/
This link is to an article about the use of video games and virtual reality in military training exercises. Such training is controversial, as some argue that one of the effects is desensitization to violence, making it easier for soldiers to kill.
Obviously dehumanization and desensitization are preferable for those who wish to promote war. But to those of us who believe that war is hell, it is necessary to get past the barriers that prevent us from knowing the true story, which I believe is part of the purpose of this novel.
Adding to promoting war through dehumanization and desensitization World War I was famous in starting the use of war propaganda. Every country used propaganda to persuade young men to enlist and fight.
ReplyDeleteAn example, this link shows US propaganda dehumanizing enemies, and tells men to freely enlist.
http://sydwalker.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Destroy_this_mad_brute_WWI_propaganda_poster_US_version.jpg
Every solider fell to persuasive and almost taunting propaganda; shown in the German and British propaganda in this link.
http://worldwaripropaganda.wordpress.com/
Now throughout this book Paul has been breaking down these barriers and expressing what actually is happening on the front line during battle. He also has been conscience of frontline events and not becoming a prisoner to the pretty lights propaganda displays. Paul says, "The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with greater insight and more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. We had to recognize that our generation was more the be trusted than theirs" (Ramarque, 12). These displays of heroism and comfort that propaganda showed was a way to encourage young men like Paul and his friends to enlist. Now on his visit home during his leave Paul doesn't come back as a celebrity as propaganda had shown. "Out there I was indifferent and often hopeless-I will never be able to do so again. I was a solider, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, for my mother, for everything that is so comfortless and without end" (Ramarque, 185). He realizes he will forever be changed due to the chain of events that have occurred.