Night and All Quiet on Western Front Summer Reading Essay Example

it is the emotional trauma endured during war that sets this experience apart. The emotional torment inflicted upon prisoners in this particular war surpassed any other conflicts where death was involved.

In Night by Lie Wishes, the main character and his family are forcibly taken to concentration camps by the German army. They were transported like cargo on trains until they reached Brinkmen, where darkness enveloped them completely. The word "night" serves as a symbol for a godforsaken land, resembling how darkness enveloped Earth at its creation according to biblical descriptions. Throughout his time in the concentration camps, Lie constantly questions why God would allow such suffering to occur in a place devoid of His presence. He finds solace solely through his father's companionship; his father becomes Lie's sole source of inspiration to survive.

The association between light and goodness versus darkness and evil remains prevalent even today, as evidenced by idioms like "seeing the light" representing understanding and "black balled" depicting exclusion. In All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Armature effectively manipulates language to shape ideas within traders' minds.

The author adeptly utilizes descriptive language that creates vivid imagery for readersThe text describes various events and symbols in the novel that foreshadow future events and convey deeper meanings. One example is the description of wounded horses, which reflects the bond between Bummer and his comrades, hinting at their eventual loss of sanity. Deterring encounters a cherry tree blossom and takes a branch with him, reminiscent of his orchard at home. This foreshadows his disillusionment and departure from the squad. Kate dies in Bummer's arms while Beamer is the last to die on a

peaceful day in October 1918.

Additionally, there is a vivid depiction of lethal gas that threatens Bummer's life. The gas is described as a nauseous monster looming in their shell hole, but fortunately Bummer's gas mask protects him from this painful death. Despite being bombarded with mortars and gas in a graveyard, Bummer finds solace in his casket. The significance of Franz Chimer's possession includes Armature's illustration of prized boots made of soft yellow leather that reach up to the knees with laces all the way up - truly enviable items. These boots symbolize how soldiers' lives are considered disposableChimer acquired the boots initially owned by a deceased pilot and later passed them on to Mueller after his own death. Despite Mueller's demise, the boots remain unharmed, highlighting how human lives are considered more expendable than material possessions. Throughout "All Quiet on the Western Front," Paul Beamer's thoughts depict both beauty and horror. In the beginning of the novel, Beamer describes their camp conditions, including their meals consisting of beef and Haricot bears, which brings them satisfaction and peace. Located five miles away from the front line, Beamer and his friends feel safe in their camp where he enjoys comfortable amenities like a bed, sufficient food and water, as well as cigars with tobacco. Armature's language choices such as "bellies are full" and "they were at peace" indicate that Beamer is content with his situation as a soldier equipped with all necessary supplies for a week. According to Beamer, they have been fortunate but this luck doesn't last long. This notion of luck conveys the pleasure and joy experienced by Beamer which is uncommon during wartime.

However, as the story progresses, Beamer confronts the brutal reality of war and its cruelty when they come under attack while marching with their troop—gunshots echoing overhead along with mortars flying above causing some soldiers to defecate in fearAmid the chaos, Beamer finds himself in a graveyard under mortar fire. In a hurry to seek shelter, he and his leader Kate hide in an open coffin. The adversaries then throw gas-filled grenades, prompting Kate to warn Beamer about the gas. He quickly puts on his mask to protect himself, knowing that even a single breath of gas could be fatal. Shockingly, Beamer discovers that his fellow soldiers in the coffin are dead and covered in blood. Witnessing this firsthand reminds him once again of the horrifying reality of war – it is unimaginably agonizing for him to see his friends lifeless on the ground.

Throughout the novel, Armature introduces contrasting emotions such as happiness and sadness multiple times. One of Beamer's close friends, Franz Chimer, loses his foot during battle and is sent to the infirmary. During a visit to Chimer, Beamer witnesses his deteriorating condition and eventual death while desperately calling for a doctor. However, the doctor shows no concern at all. This agonizing death has a lasting impact on Beamer and emphasizes the harsh realities of war.

Despite these hardships, there is a momentary sense of joy when Beamer and his troop unexpectedly come across French girls. They cross a canal to reach the girls' house where one brunette catches Beamer's eye. Desiring an escape from war's horrors, he passionately kisses her and briefly daydreams about having a better life with her by his side.

And if I delve further into her embrace... perhaps a miracle could happenBeamer reflects on his earlier years and the happiness he experienced before the war, where he witnessed terrible acts. Armature suggests that despite the hardships, soldiers are still searching for something to believe in. This reminds me of a scene from Apocalypse Now, a film about soldiers in the Vietnam War. In this particular scene, the protagonist and his troops enter enemy territory on a mission to eliminate a renegade leader. Similar to Armature's story, amidst the chaos of war, they come across an American outpost where unexpected playboy bunnies entertain the troops. This momentary suspension of horror is reminiscent of All Quiet on the Western Front, allowing both characters and audience to find solace from violence and experience joy and happiness. The young German soldiers possess deep national pride and patriotism, personified by Keynoter who refers to them as Germany's "Iron Youth" in his letter to Group. However, as time goes on and Beamer continues with his duties overseeing Russian prisoners who are barely given enough food to survive upon his return from leave, his patriotism begins to fade. He observes their physical characteristics such as their honest peasant faces, broad foreheads, noses mouths hands ,and thick hair (Armature 190).Gradually, Beamer becomes aware that these prisoners are similar to him and questions why he is fighting against them. His hope and morale in the war start to diminish as he realizes that the true enemies are the military leaders. In All Quiet on the Western Front, love is portrayed as patriotism. During his childhood, Keynoter would passionately lecture about the significance of

loving one's country and fulfilling duty. Beamer vividly recalls Keynoter's intense gaze through his spectacles, urging them to join with a moving voice (Armature, 11). Motivated by this, Beamer volunteers to serve his country in the army. These young boys were indoctrinated with loyalty and duty, expecting romantic adventures and heroic events in war. However, everything changes abruptly. Throughout the novel, there is evident discontent and resentment towards their leaders. The first bombardment shatters the world their leaders had promised them and exposes their mistake (Armature). The first quote from (Armature, 13) indicates that they feel deceived by being promised one thing but given another. The distinction between German soldiers and Russian soldiers becomes unclear when Paul is assigned to guard Russian prisoners. He grows frustrated when faceless leaders decide who is right or wrong.This frustration arises for Bummer when he sees the quiet men with innocent faces and apostles' beards, as he cannot distinguish between friend and foe. Non-commissioned officers and schoolmasters are perceived as more of an enemy to us than they are to them, yet both sides would shoot at each other if given the opportunity. This quote can be connected with the second quote from (Armature, 194) in both novels.

In (Wishes, 22), Lie describes a synagogue that resembles a large railroad station, filled with baggage and tears. The altar is shattered, the wall coverings are shredded, and the walls are bare. The overcrowded conditions make it difficult to breathe during the twenty-four hours spent there. Downstairs are the men while upstairs are the women. It is Saturday, the Sabbath day, and it feels like they were meant to attend services. However,

going outside is forbidden so people relieve themselves in a corner. This portrayal demonstrates how Lie's place of sacrament has become unholy and desecrated as it now serves as their area of deportation.

When Wishes mentions that the deportation took place on the Sabbath day, it showcases the soldiers' complete disregard and contempt for their prisoners and everything they hold sacred.The passage discusses similarities between Bummer's experience in All Quiet on the Western Front and Lie's experience in Night. Both Bummer and Lie find themselves in dangerous and troubling situations as soldiers exposed to war's harsh realities.Bummer seeks solace in a place of peace and safety, but it quickly becomes a battleground. In the book Night, Lie and his family are transported to a concentration camp where they experience a horrifying environment filled with darkness and hopelessness. Similarly, in All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul struggles to survive under challenging conditions that expose him to rats, decaying corpses, and lice. Despite these difficulties, there are moments of camaraderie among soldiers like when Teased offers Paul a cigarette and light (Armature 51). The soldiers endure constant deprivation of food, proper clothing, and medical attention. Paul is haunted by the brutal deaths of his friends in Armature's vivid portrayal of panic and loss of hope resulting from dire conditions (2). In Weasel's book Night, Lie witnesses death immediately upon arriving at Auschwitz as he sees flames rising from nearby ditches where something is being burned. A truck arrives releasing helpless children into the flames causing horror for Lie who directly experiences the cruelty of German soldiers determined to eradicate the Jewish population through genocide (Wishes 32).During World

War II in Nazi Germany, Sis experiences the unimaginable as he and his father face imprisonment in different camps. As they endure the harsh conditions of these camps, Sis witnesses his father's physical and emotional decline caused by lack of food, strenuous labor, and illness.

Towards the end of the story, Sis's father falls ill with dysentery. Despite Sis's attempts to help by sharing extra rations and providing water, his efforts are in vain. "I brought him water. Then I went towards roll call. But I quickly turned back. I lay down on the upper bunk. The sick were allowed to stay in the block." Being sick himself, Sis chooses not to leave his father's side. In a surrounding filled with silence interrupted only by moaning sounds, officers give orders at the front of their block while an officer passes between their bunks.

Sis's father desperately pleads for water, claiming that he is burning up inside. The officer commands him to be silent but his pleas continue calling for Sis's presence. The officer strikes him on the head with a club; however, out of fear of further harm, Sis remains motionless. His father groans once more but struggles to breathe properly.

Helplessly witnessing his father being beaten and punished while remaining silent leaves Sis conflicted about his decision.

Inevitably, his father is taken away to the crematorium where even on his deathbed he is mercilessly beaten.

This experience leaves Sis torn about whether or not staying quiet was the right choiceSimilarly, in All Quiet on the Western Front, Beamer experienced the distressing loss of one of his closest companions. Franz Chimer suffered a devastating injury that resulted in

the amputation of his foot, and Beamer remained at his side until the very end. As Franz's condition deteriorated and he emitted agonizing sounds, Beamer's own trauma deepened as he came to terms with the imminent death of his dear friend. Even when conversing with a doctor about this tragic event, Beamer felt no empathy or concern from the medical professional. The doctor simply remarked that it was the twentieth death that day. In times of war, death is a commonplace occurrence compared to civilian life where it is an infrequent event. Soldiers stationed at the front swiftly detach themselves emotionally from each death due to its recurrent nature. During one particular incident, Beamer and his platoon were ambushed in a graveyard and subjected to relentless mortar fire and bullets. Witnessing fellow soldiers perish became a regularity for Beamer. Upon awakening amidst ongoing combat, he discovered a deceased comrade lying beside him. Death permeates every facet of warfare, compelling soldiers to take extreme measures to evade it at all costs. Ultimately, both novels effectively convey themes centered around mortality, terror, and humanity's cruelty towards one another; offering an authentic portrayal of the harrowing experiences endured by soldiers and prisoners alike.These narratives have profoundly shifted my perspective on both World War II’s Holocaust atrocities as well as warfare itself.These universal truths remain relevant even in present times.