Soldier X Character Analysis

It’s 1944 and WWII is raging on. Fighting as a Hitler youth and barely a sixteen year old, Erik Brandit known as Soldier X is thrown into a world of violence with many twists and turns along the way. Throughout the novel by Don L. Wulffson, Soldier X must show certain characteristics including bravery, perseverance and unselfishness to survive the tough conditions. 

Firstly, An example of when Soldier X is brave, is when he is taking the uniform from the dead Russian soldier. “More Russians were passing by every minute. I heard them; I saw them scramble through the trench. I was trapped behind enemy lines. If discovered I would be killed. Even playing dead would not save me; even dead, once found I would be skewered on the end of a bayonet. I had only one chance, I knew, to save myself.”(Wulffson pg.76). This shows bravery because he is making a very bold move and he knows if he messes up he will end up dead. Additionally, it is brave because even if he succeeds he will be trapped behind enemy lines and that is very dangerous. Another example of his bravery is when Soldier X and Tamara are running for their lives and trying to escape German territory. “A single gunshot popped. “Run!” and then we were racing across the stretch of ground. From behind us came the brrrp of an automatic weapon. Bullets snapped past. There were shouts in German, the sound of fast, noisy footfalls coming down the hill, and then a flurry of rifle fire. Tamara and I stumbled into the forest as bullets punched into trees and kicked up little sprays of dirt and gravel.”(Wulffson pg.161). This shows bravery because Soldier X takes initiative even in a terrifying situation and helps himself and Tamara to safety. Most people would have shivered in fear and froze but Soldier X showed bravery and saved himself and Tamara. 

Furthermore, Soldier X is perseverant. For example, near the beginning of the book when Soldier X is fighting as a German soldier “I put my arm around him. I sobbed. I screamed his name, shaking him, trying to shake him back to life. A moment later I was at the lip of the trench between Oskar and a bearded veteran.”(Wulffson pg.60). This is perseverance because he is able to move on and keep going even after his best friend passes away. Also most people would have stayed there and mourned for a while but Soldier X knew what he had to do and persevered through. Another example when Soldier is perseverant is when he and Tamara are on the run in the woods “The hunger, cold and exhaustion-because of them, our minds began to wander.”(Wulffson 170). This shows perseverance because even though it is a really tough time for Soldier X and Tamara, they still get through it. Also they are cold, tired and exhausted but they persevered through it and didn't give up. 

Finally Soldier X is unselfish. For example on page one hundred sixty eight, Soldier X said “So they were Russians. Russians, germans--what's the difference.'' This shows unselfish because even though they were from somewhere else he still showed unselfishness and helped them. He put his differences aside and helped other people which is unselfish. Another example of Soldier X being unselfish when X and Tamara are surviving in the woods and Tamara asks why it mattered  that he thought she was gone. “Because it would,” I said suddenly angry, “ it would matter a lot.” He was worried Tamara was gone which shows that he is unselfish and cares about others. Also it shows that he is not just looking out for himself and that he worries about others. 

Even though Soldier is just another young German soldier in the beginning, he progresses and begins to show certain qualities that not everyone possesses. Throughout the Novel, Don L. Wulffson reminds the reader to look under the surface and notice certain characteristics, such as bravery,perseverance and unselfishness.