Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy can be used to evaluate the ethics and morality of Himmelstoss in All Quiet on the Western Front. Himmelstoss is portrayed as the strictest disciplinarian in the camp who enjoys abusing his power and feeling in control of others. His attitude can be seen in his harsh words when he addresses Tjaden saying, “‘What’s that, you muck-rake, you dirty peat-stealer? Stand up there, bring your heels together when your superior officer speaks to you’” (pg. 82).  This shows Himmelstoss’s demanding attitude towards those lower in rank, without consideration of the aftermath of his own overbearing commands. He inflicts punishments that are often cruel and unnecessary, like making Tjaden and another bedwetter sleep on bunks and rotate beds every night so that each morning one of them is covered in the other’s urine. Sartre argues that humans are responsible for everything they do, and Himmelstoss’s actions show that he is not living up to this responsibility. Jean-Paul Sartre stresses the responsibility that one must uphold which comes along with freedom. Himmelstoss proves to abuse his said freedom by using his authority to order people around, knowing they won’t be able to refuse due to his rank. 

For instance, Himmelstoss’s behavior portrays his carelessness in recognizing the consequences that entail his actions. Being drunk on his own power, despite having been an ordinary postman before the war, he doesn’t hesitate to exercise and test the limits of his own power. This provokes Paul to narrate, “That is our sole ambition: to knock the conceit out of a postman” (pg. 89). Paul recognizes that Himmelstoss is much too proud and drunk on his own power despite having been a postman when he was a civilian.  Himmelstoss earned such contempt when he made Paul remake his bed fourteen times and knead boots for twenty hours. Himmelstoss’ inconsideration would strengthen Jean-Paul Sartre’s belief that “Hell is other people”. Moreover, he also assigned Paul the physically straining task of scrubbing the Corporals’ Mess with a toothbrush along  with making Kropp and Paul shovel snow with a hand broom and dustpan. As a result, this placed visible physical injuries on both Paul and Kropp who nearly froze completing the task. Yet, Jean-Paul Sartre grew up during wartime and thus, these experiences weren’t unfamiliar as he states that, “it disturbs me no more to find men base, unjust, or selfish than to see apes mischievous, wolves savage, or the vulture ravenous”. These punishments are not only excessive but also unnecessary, showing that Himmelstoss is not acting in a responsible manner, contradicting Jean-Paul Sartre’s central theme of acknowledging consequences that are borne from one’s actions.

Sartre’s philosophy also emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s own limitations and weaknesses. Himmelstoss is shown to be hypocritical and clueless about the realities of war. He is afraid of it all and is much like a new recruit, despite all his grand talk about the army and war. This lack of self-awareness shows that Himmelstoss is not taking responsibility for his own limitations and weaknesses. “But it makes me mad that the young recruits should be out there and he here…He does not stir, his lips quiver, his moustache twitches” (pg. 131). This shows how hypocritical Himmelstoss is and despite all his grand talk about the army and war, he himself is afraid of it all and clueless as much as a new recruit.  He also made Paul run eight times from the top of the barracks to the courtyard because his drawers were three inches over the edge of the stool where clothing was placed. These actions show that Himmelstoss is not only cruel but also irrational and incapable of dealing with his own anxieties. Jean-Paul Sartre recognizes Himmelstoss’ hesitance as he observes that “[t]he recruit who reports for active duty at the beginning of the war can in some instances be afraid of death, but more often he is ‘afraid of being afraid’; that is, he is filled with anguish before himself.” Sartre’s philosophy also highlights the importance of treating others with respect and recognizing their humanity. Himmelstoss’s behavior shows that he lacks this recognition. Not only does Himmelstoss display inconsideration towards soldiers of lower rank, but Himmelstoss does not view his fellow soldiers as human beings with dignity and worth, but rather as objects to be used and abused.

Himmelstoss’s character undergoes development after he faces the gruesome reality of the trenches and tries to befriend Paul and the others. Himmestoss undergoes a change as, “[h]e has  had the bounce knocked out of him since he has been in the trenches and wants to get on good terms with us” and works to appeal to them through offering them 2 pounds of sugar, half a pound of butter, and extra food from the canteen once he takes place of the sergeant-cook.  (pg. 137). Moreover, he even carries Haie Westhus after Haie was shot in the back. While this change is commendable, it does not excuse his past behavior. Aftereall, as Jean-Paul Sartre states, “[m]an is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does”. Sartre argues that humans are responsible for their actions, and Himmelstoss must take responsibility for his previous actions and the harm they caused others. 

In conclusion, Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy provides a useful lens through which to evaluate the ethics and morality of Himmelstoss in All Quiet on the Western Front. Himmelstoss’s behavior towards the soldiers under his command is immoral and inauthentic, as he is more concerned with exerting power over others than with treating them with respect and empathy. While Himmelstoss does undergo a transformation, his previous actions cannot be overlooked, and the punishments he inflicts on the soldiers are particularly egregious. Ultimately, Himmelstoss’s behavior serves to undermine the morale and cohesion of the platoon, making it clear that his actions are not only immoral but also counterproductive.

As much as I’d like to credit myself for the creation of this detailed and carefully crafted essay, I wasn’t the one who wrote it. This essay was the product of artificial intelligence known as ‘ChatGPT’. Although, I did go back and edit some parts of the essay, at least 80% of it was written by a computer after being given the instruction:

“Write a well-written comprehensive essay (at least 500 words) where the philosophy of Jean Paul Sartre  is used to evaluate the ethics and morality of Himmelstoss in regards to his treatment, interactions, and behaviors with fellow soldiers under his command. Please include the punishments he uses, for instance, the bedwetting punishment Tjaden underwent as depicted in the novel  All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. The evaluation and analysis must include several quotes, or specific lines from the work(s) of Jean-Paul Sartre and the novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Please write this at the lexile level of 1000 L.”

It was even possible to tell the AI to adjust the writing level of the essay in order to make it seem as if it was written by a high school student.

It seems almost unfathomable how capable a machine is, enough to write an essay with such little guidance. Although a major flaw is the AI’s habit of integrating made up quotes that weren’t part of the book, but besides that, the essay incorporated the main theme of Paul Sartre’s beliefs and the morals of Himmelstoss. Thus, this piece of writing portrays the power of technology and its current advancements that make it capable to carry out a variety of tasks, one of which includes writing essays.