Finley Stevens

Fitz English

April 1, 2019

Chapter three Socratic seminar

“Our knowledge of life is limited to death”
-All Quiet on the Western Front

What I want to talk about during the Socratic seminar about chapter three is abusing power. I want to talk about this because the group of friends that this book is mainly about have told so many stories of when they were doing training drills, following orders or just doing something as simple as cleaning there bunk and Himmelstoss or another commander would punish them even is they just slightly messed one thing up or did something the wrong way they would punish them sometimes severely. So the question I want to discuss and figure out during the socratic seminar is whether or not Himmelstoss and the other commanders are abusing their power. The other thing that I want to talk about is why to everyone who decided to join the army or who’s parents made them join why did was the decision so automatic for the kid or the parent? Before they left did the consider the fact that this could be the most dangerous thing they’ll ever do in their life? They would be leaving their whole life behind and basically be starting a brand new life totally different from their life back at a home? If another war was to happen nowadays knowing everything that can happen to you during war do you think everyone’s decision to join would be as automatic as it was before?