Chapter 8 Literary Analysis

Lucas Lisman
Patrick Romeri
Owen Johnson
4/25/15

“In the evening I spread the jam on the cakes and eat some. But I have no taste for them. So I go out to give them to the Russians. Then it occurs to me that my mother cooked them herself and that she was probably in pain as she stood before the hot stove. I put the bag back in my pack and take only two cakes to the Russians.”

 “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Chapter 8

          Empathy is about standing in someone else's shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place.  In Chapter 8 of the book, All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, Paul shows his empathy, which makes a huge impact.  He shows empathy towards his mom, and the prisoners, by saving her food, but giving some to the prisoners, which could ultimately save their life life.  Before they head back to the trenches, Paul’s father and sister give Paul some jam and potato cakes that his mother made for him. Depressed, Paul has no appetite for the food, and thinks whether to give them to the hungry Russian prisoners. He decides that he will give the food to them, but then he remembers that his mother must have been in pain when she made the cakes and that she especially made them for him. He compromises by giving the prisoners two of the cakes.

“In the evening I spread the jam on the cakes and eat some. But I have no taste for them. So I go out to give them to the Russians. Then it occurs to me that my mother cooked them herself and that she was probably in pain as she stood before the hot stove. I put the bag back in my pack and take only two cakes to the Russians.”

Excerpt From: Erich Maria Remarque & Arthur Wesley Wheen. “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Chapter 8

In chapter 8, Paul shows great empathy. It illustrates how people even when they are so sad, so mad and overall depressed. Still, have the capability to feel bad for others. And, to realize that they are doing just fine in comparison. This is a great trait that Paul has presented. It is a gift that will only help him in the future. Paul is almost broken and he is barely holding on to sanity. Yet, he still finds the decency in himself to help criminals at the nearby prison.  Paul's empathy was one huge way that he made an impact on the prisoners.