In All Quiet on the Western Front, the soldiers Haie, Paul, Kropp, and Tjaden had to endure the brutality of their drill sergeant, Himmelstoss. Himmelstoss was a short-tempered and ruthless drill sergeant who enforced brutal drills upon the recruits, including the four soldiers from the same school. In the book, the soldiers sought revenge on Himmelstoss, who they saw as a cruel and inhumane leader. The philosophy of Confucius can be used to evaluate the morality of the soldiers’ act of revenge on Himmelstoss.

To begin, Confucius’s Golden Rule, “Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself,” is a valuable principle in evaluating the soldiers’ actions. The soldiers had experienced the pain and anguish that Himmelstoss inflicted on them. Thus, they should not have inflicted pain on him, which they did by beating him up when he arrived at his favorite pub. The soldiers’ act of revenge was cruel and unbecoming of individuals who had suffered at the hands of a ruthless leader. Instead, they should have treated him with the same respect that they wished for themselves, regardless of how he treated them. On the topic of treating others, another one of Confucius’s quotes states, “When you see a good person, think of becoming like him/her. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points,” which is also applicable in evaluating the soldiers’ morality. Himmelstoss was not a good person, and the soldiers did not reflect on their own weak points when they sought revenge on him. Instead, they acted on their emotions and inflicted harm on him. The soldiers should have reflected on their own weaknesses and strived to be better individuals than Himmelstoss. By doing so, they would have shown maturity and wisdom in dealing with their tormentor. But by seeking revenge, they had become the very thing that they had swore to destroy. This could be attributed to their blind anger towards Himmelstoss. Confucius’s quote, “When anger rises, think of the consequences,” is another principle that applies to the soldiers’ act of revenge on Himmelstoss. The soldiers’ anger towards Himmelstoss clouded their judgment and caused them to act impulsively. They did not consider the consequences of their actions, such as the possible legal ramifications of beating up their drill sergeant or the effects of their actions on their own morale. By thinking about the consequences of their actions, the soldiers would have acted more thoughtfully and avoided further harm to themselves and others.

In addition to Confucius’s philosophy, some quotes from All Quiet on the Western Front also support the idea that the soldiers’ act of revenge on Himmelstoss was not morally right. For instance, the quote, “Himmelstoss had the reputation of being the strictest disciplinarian in the camp, and was proud of it” (Page 23, All Quiet on the Western Front), shows that Himmelstoss took pride in his harsh treatment of the recruits. Thus, the soldiers should have been the bigger individuals and not retaliated, as it would have made them no better than Himmelstoss. Another quote, “In the meantime, we decided to give him a good hiding. What could he do to us anyhow if he didn’t recognize us and we left early in the morning?” (Page 47, All Quiet on the Western Front), shows that the soldiers planned to harm Himmelstoss in secret, which indicates that they knew it was not the right thing to do. This quote further supports the argument that the soldiers’ act of revenge on Himmelstoss was not morally justified. Using another quote by Tjaden, “Wouldn’t you like to know what you [Himmelstoss] are? A dirty hound, that’s what you [Himmelstoss] are. I’ve been wanting to tell you that for a long time” (Page 82, All Quiet on the Western Front), shows that Tjaden is the one who expresses his anger the most towards Himmelstoss. He refers to Himmelstoss as a “dirty hound” and tells him what he really thinks of him. This goes against Confucius’ idea of “When anger rises, think of the consequences”. It is important to take a step back and reflect on the situation before acting on anger. Tjaden’s anger towards Himmelstoss was understandable, but he could have expressed it in a more respectful way. The soldiers’ pent up anger causes them to beat up Himmelstoss, which goes against the idea of becoming a good person, as Confucius taught. When the soldiers beat up Himmelstoss, they lowered themselves to his level. They became like him, a person who uses violence to get what he wants. This goes against Confucius’ idea of becoming a better person when we see someone who is not so good.

However, it is important to note that the soldiers’ decision to get revenge on Himmelstoss can also be seen as a result of the war’s dehumanizing effect. The soldiers have seen so much brutality and violence in the war that they may have lost their sense of morality. The war has made them feel powerless, and getting revenge on Himmelstoss may have been a way to regain some power.

In conclusion, the soldiers’ decision to get revenge on Himmelstoss in All Quiet on the Western Front can be evaluated through the philosophy of Confucius. Himmelstoss’ behavior towards the recruits goes against Confucius’ philosophy of treating others with respect. Also, the soldiers’ decision to get revenge goes against Confucius’ philosophy of not imposing on others what you do not wish for yourself and becoming a better person when we see someone who is not so good. However, it is important to take into consideration the dehumanizing effect of war on the soldiers and how it may have affected their decision-making.