The philosophy of Existentialism can be used to evaluate the ethics of Paul Baümer, a soldier in the novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Existentialism is the philosophical belief that we are each responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own lives. It emphasizes individual freedom and choice and the absence of a predetermined purpose or meaning in life. Jean-Paul Sarte, one of the most famous existentialist philosophers, believed that freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you, and that life begins on the other side of despair. Throughout the novel, Paul displays key ideas of Existentialism projected through his actions and way he thinks. Most notably, Paul’s nature reflects on the philosophical beliefs that commitment is an act rather than a word, everything has been figured out, except how to live, and everyone is responsible for creating purpose or meaning in their own lives.

Paul Baümer is a young soldier who has been thrust into the horrors of war. He feels disappointed and let down from the reality of what war is actually like, since his superiors have glorified it so much. As he experiences it for himself he soon realizes he and his comrades are not fighting for a cause or reason, but for the sake of their survival.    He is kindhearted and caring towards his comrades, since they are the same people he’s known prior to being enrolled. Because of how long they have known each other, Paul grows a strong relationship with them and views them as way more than just his peers. In chapter 9 when he reunites with them after being away for six weeks, he feels a sense of comfort when he sees them. Paul says to himself, “this is where I belong” (pg. 201) before catching up with those he has not seen in a while. Displaying his close knit friendship he has with them However, his commitment does not stop here and goes further.. Paul’s caring nature shows on different occasions when he  learns that his comrades are hurt. Through strenuous and exhausting journeys, Paul carries his injured comrades to seek safety. Paul is taking action to save his comrades, despite the despair and hopelessness of their situation. He realizes the meaning of life is found in our relationships with others and the actions we take to support and care for them. This is a reflection of the existentialist belief that commitment is an act, not a word. Paul is committed to his comrades and their well-being, and he shows this through his actions.

Referring back to the previous paragraph, it is prevalent that Paul and his comrades were deceived by the idea of war when they finally experienced it for themselves. They feel sort of “tricked” as their former school teacher Kantorek made the war out to be something that it is not. Kanorek wanted them to take pride in their country and dwelled on the fact that war would show a presence of nationalism that they lacked, but war was far from what was expected. The war has taken a physical and mental toll on him. He feels numb from the war, and tries to maintain his composure about all the pain and fear that it has caused him in an attempt to not have it affect him. He is deceived by the glorification of war as he feels like him. The emphasis of loss of innocence is scattered all throughout the novel and referenced time and time again. From the start of the book, all the way to the end, the imperative theme does not go away. On page 263 Paul justifies that the trauma of war does not just go away, “I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another.” This realization reflects the existentialist belief everything has been figured out, except how to live. By rejecting the idea that war is noble or heroic, Paul is able to see the humanity in his enemies and work towards a more peaceful and compassionate world

Although Paul was pressured into going to war, he found himself to interpret his own life and create a purpose for it. In Chapter 9 of the novel, Paul stabs and almost kills the enemy, but realizes what he had done. Feeling this cloud of guilt brush over him,  he pulls himself to help a person he once saw as the enemy. In an attempt to keep him alive before it’s too late, he gives water and stays by the side of the injured soldier. In this moment he realizes that the soldier is no different from himself.  He ends up wanting to save him before his life is cut short. He gives him water and feels terrible for what he did. This is a reflection of the existentialist belief that we are each responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own lives. Paul realizes the fragility of life and the consequences of his actions. He understands that the enemy is just like him, and that they are both caught up in a meaningless war. Instead of confiding with what his country has told him, what he should do with his life and who he should avoid, Paul takes action to find his own purpose in life. He interprets life on his own and fulfills the responsibility over his actions and morals.

In analyzing Paul’s ethics through an existentialist lens, it becomes clear that he values the lives of his comrades and recognizes the fragility of life. Throughout the novel, Paul struggles to find meaning in his experiences, but he ultimately realizes that the meaning of life is found in our relationships with others and the actions we take to support and care for them. This realization is a key aspect of existentialist philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and choice, but also recognizes that our lives are interconnected with the lives of others.This realization is a key aspect of existentialist philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and choice, but also recognizes that our lives are interconnected with the lives of others. Moreover, Paul’s experiences in war have led him to reject the glorification of war and recognize its senselessness. Paul is able to see the humanity in his enemies and work towards a more peaceful and compassionate world .Overall, Paul Baümer is a complex character whose ethics can be evaluated through the lens of existentialist philosophy. Through his experiences in war and his relationships with his comrades, he comes to understand the importance of individual freedom, the fragility of life, and the interconnectedness of all people. These ideas are fundamental to existentialism, and they serve as a powerful framework for analyzing Paul’s actions and motivations throughout the novel.

Works Cited

Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Ballantine Books, 1987.