A Pair of Boots Worth More Than Human Lives (All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Analysis)

Would one value the possession as much if the former is in better conditions? Would the commanders survive the conditions of the war in the frontline? The novel, All Quiet On The Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque, presents World War One's horrors from the Germans' perspective about Paul and his company near the western front of the war in 1917. The narrator is a nineteen years old German soldier, Paul, who witnessed many horrible things of the war. The loss of innocence is a prevalent theme throughout the story. This is evident in one of Paul’s fallen comrades, Kemmerich, whose boots were passed down among Paul’s comrades. Embodiment is a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling. The question of who will inherit the boots continually overshadows their owners’ deaths. Therefore, the boots are more valuable—and more durable—than a human life. Just as Kemmerich’s boots are the embodiment of the horror of war, so is the face mask an embodiment of the horror of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kemmerich's boots are the embodiment of the horror of war through representing the cheapness of the soldiers' lives. Paul’s comrade, Kemmerich, suffers a fatal injury to the thigh. Despite knowing that Kemmerich won’t survive, Muller shows interest in Kemmerich’s boots. Paul explains:“Though Müller would be delighted to have Kemmerich's boots, he is really quite as sympathetic as another who could not bear to think of such a thing for grief. He merely sees things clearly…We have lost all sense of other considerations, because they are artificial. Only the facts are real and important for us. And good boots are scarce”  (Remarque 11). The boots revealed the cheapness of the soldiers' lives. In truth, this pair of boots lasted longer than four men's lives, since Kemmerich stole the boots from the dead English paratrooper. According to Cole, even before the soldiers’ deaths, they believed death was imminent so much that they promised their things to each other. Because the boots have passed through so many hands in a few years, this is a clear way of showing how many the war killed and how short soldiers’ lifespans are. 

The medical treatment for the wounded soldiers is poor during 1917. Therefore, Kemmerich is unlikely to live after his amputation. Thus, as Paul, Kropp and Muller bring Kemmerich’s possessions over, they covet his high quality leather boots. “We all three have the same thought; even if he should get better, he would be able to use only one--they are no use to him. But as things are now it is a pity that they should stay here; the orderlies will of course grab them as soon as he is dead...” (Remarque 8). Throughout the novel, it is shown that the authorities do not care about the livelihood of their soldiers. The three friends realize that the orderlies will take Kemmerich’s boots as soon as Kemmerich is dead. This alludes to the high ups finds Kemmerich’s boots more valuable than Kemmerich’s life. Little effort is put into Kemmerich’s treatments. The authorities believed that it is useless even if Kemmerich recovered, since Kemmerich will be unable to fight effectively with one leg. This represents the cheapness and frequent discardment of the soldiers’ lives.

Kemmerich's boots are the embodiment of the horror of war since the boots symbolize death, similar to the circle of life: when one inheriting the boots dies, the next in line will receive them. As Kemmerich is dying, Muller decides to inherit Kemmerich’s boots. Paul reasons that Muller wanting the boots so badly is not a sign of Muller’s bad character. Since the harsh conditions of war force Muller to make a practical decision.  "Were Kemmerich able to make any use of the boots, then Müller would rather go bare-foot over barbed wire than scheme how to get hold of them. But as it is the boots are quite inappropriate to Kemmerich's circumstances, whereas Müller can make good use of them."  (Remarque 11). Generally, when one’s best friend dies, one will keep the friend’s things in pristine conditions. However, in such situations, the men would rather have their things go to good use than be taken by the enemy or thrown away and rotted in the ground. According to Eric, here, when someone dies, one has to move on; there is no sensitivity; there is no grieving period. Moreover, the mentality of practicality and distancing from emotions are prevalent: any unused goods leads to waste, any confrontation of one's emotions could have unforeseen consequences, which could be a distraction that a soldier cannot afford.

As the war rages on, the Germans side is doing poorly and the German army is forced to take a defensive stance. During the counterattack from the allies, Muller is shot in the stomach and suffers for half an hour being succumbing to his wounds. Before Muller’s death, he gives Paul the boots which once belonged to Kemmerich. "Muller is dead..... Before he died he handed over his pocket-book to me, and bequeathed me his boots the same that he once inherited from Kemmerich. I wear them, for they fit me quite well. After me Tjaden will get them, I have promised them to him" (Remarque 132). Paul's comrades promised each other to remember Kemmerich and carry on his spirit by wearing the boots. Likewise, Muller was one of their best friends, just as Kemmerich was, but instead of cherishing and keeping their favorite items, the boots, safe, they thought of their usefulness and made the best of them. Dehumanization shows the horrors of war as friends prioritize materialistic things more than the sentimental values of their friendships.

Throughout the novel, Kemmerich’s boots are being prioritized over lives. This shows how Kemmerich’s boots embody the horror of war as the boots are passed through hands very quickly. Muller values the boots over sentimental feelings about his friend’s death. The harsh conditions of the war force the soldiers to care more about possessions they can acquire from the dead since soldiers die from the war so often. As soldiers die so quickly, good boots overshadow human lives. In conclusion, just as Kemmerich’s boot is the embodiment of the horror of war, so is the face mask an embodiment of the horror of the Covid-19 pandemic.