Soldier's Heart

This two chapters were intriguing, and already made me interested in what the book would be about. The protagonist is Paul Baumer, a twenty year old German soldier fighting with his comrades in World War One. His friends; Muller, Tjaden, Kemmerich, Katczinsky, all fighting side by side. However, Kemmerich facee death already in the beginning. Here, I would say the only antagonist would be war. Tjaden was talked about acting mad in the hospital but he was still alive later in the book. The theme, from what I read so far, is about humanity in war. The emotions, and a true taste of life with love, hate, death, joy and suffering one gains from going through a war.
Many insights and thoughts were already gained from these two chapters. A twenty year old, through war has seen the lies authority and society placed in front of the eyes of a young generation, blinding them. They were told that they were the iron youth, and was encouraged by school masters and authority to join the war. Those who didn't were thought of as cowards. When his school master sends them a letter, wishing them the best, they merely laugh at it, hoping that the school master was here himself. Best wishes in war can only go so far. When they put on their soldier uniform, they were men on the battlefield. When they take the uniforms however, they were just boys. Just like back then, young soldiers were told what an honour it was to fight for your country, a place that you love. Sadly, they often find what a misfortune it is once they start living in trenches and watching your comrade die in No man's land, helplessly.
Kemmerich's death was both emotional and cruel. Kemmerich and Paul grew up together, and Kemmerich's mother had wept when they went off to war. Kemmerich had lost a leg during the war, and wasn't going to make it. Paul and his friends had to lie to him, because for some reason at the time Kemmerich didn't know about his amputated leg. When he did however, Muller had asked to take his boots. At first it seemed inhumane, and a cold thing to do. However, because boots were scarce at the time, and Kemmerich's belongings would be taken away once he dies, it seemed reasonable that it would be better for Muller to have them. What seemed cold to me however, was how the orderlies were checking to see if he was dead yet, because there were so many casualties, Kemmerich's bed was needed right away once he's dead. At his last moments, Paul whispered old memories in Kemmerich's ear, and he died with tears on his face. Paul was left with the burden of sending his mother the grave news.
Last thing that made an impact when I was reading, was when Paul talked about using the latrines. Soldiers were forced to sit side by side, exposed while using the general latrine because they were to be supervised at all times. At first, they were all embarrassed. Time went on, and soon the time using the latrine became one of the most treasured times. It was during those awkward times when they could look at the blue sky, grass, and time of leisure to talk with their comrades. It was influenced their way of communicating, words related to latrines soon became a universal language. Nothing was well described unless a word related to latrines were used.
This introduction sets up the novel to tell its story. It laid out what a normal soldier life was like, and the real emotions they felt through the time. Trenches, appreciation for sleep and food, and looking at death in the face, constantly. The difference between young and old soldiers, were that the young soldiers had no ties with the world outside of war. Families, authorities, or hobbies they use to do just didn't make sense anymore. In way, they were free men on the battlefield, with nothing to loose but their very own life.
The only banned ideas that I see, are brothels, latrines, and how they somewhat mention the lies of the authority and government