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Examples Of Empathy Vs. Dehumanization In All Quiet On The Western Front

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Empathy vs. Dehumanization is depicted throughout All Quiet on the Western Front by showing how Paul can be both empathetic and indifferent on the battlefield, such as when he pitied a French soldier he wounded, or when he was reflecting on how a word of command could make Russians his enemies. Furthermore, on page 144 of All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul is hesitant to kill a wounded French soldier and states that "The eyes follow me. I am powerless to move so long as they are there." In this instance, empathy is represented through Paul feeling remorse for the soldier and Paul's lack of response. His emotions can be best explained as empathy, because his body freezes from guilt when noticing the scared soldier watching him.
In contrast,
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Throughout the story Paul shows that he cares about his comrades by protecting them from the dangers of war, and he also displays that he will guide them in war. Paul uses his skills of intelligence to guide his team in the trenches and at the front, and he passes on his knowledge and tricks of war to the new recruits. Not many soldiers have all of these qualities, which makes Paul stand out more than his comrades. Even today some men don't express the passion and leadership Paul shows in All Quiet on the Western Front, which brings up the fact that the war needs more men like Paul. To sum up, Paul is an honest and true man who will always be there for his comrades when needed, and he is a man the troops are proud to say is a patriotic

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This demonstrates how much these soldiers depend and need one another. In the novel it says, “Our only comfort is the steady breathing of our comrades asleep, and thus we wait for the morning” (Remarque 275). I imagine being in a dangerous environment such as an ongoing war it would be difficult to find comfort. However, Paul knowing his comrades are alive and getting some rest brings him comfort.

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