Literary Analysis Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Theme Exploration

By: Sam and Kimball

Everyone deserves kindness no matter who you are. In chapter 8 of the book All Quiet On The Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, kindness is a major theme, it is shown between two different groups of people, Russian prisoners and a German soldier. Paul shows sympathy and finds kindness within himself by giving a lot of his potato cakes and whorttle berries to the Russians, who were clearly living in bad conditions. Soon after arriving at the training camp, Paul notices a Russian prison camp next to the training camp. He sees Russian prisoners going through the Germans garbage cans looking for food to eat, and that is when Paul feels sorrow for these people who are is very bad conditions. Paul decides to show kindness to these people by giving them some food and cigarettes.

I take out my cigarettes, break each one in half and give them to the Russians. They bow to me and then light the cigarettes. Now red points glow in every face. They comfort me; it looks as though there were little windows in dark village cottages saying that behind them are rooms full of peace.

Showing kindness can go a long way. Paul did something very kind and sympathetic in this chapter and that was very important, although Paul did to even know the prisoners, and they did not speak the same language, he still showed kindness towards these people. This chapter shows lots of kindness with Paul giving the Russians the cigarettes, potato cakes, and whortleberries. Kindness is a really good thing to have and most people who have it, thrive in life.