All Quiet On The Westrn Front
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In the book, All Quiet On The Western Front, the character Corporal Himmelstoss is portrayed as a disciplinary, brutal, and sympathetic type of person in the training camps. Although prior to his position as a trainer he was a postman. Corporal Himmelstoss is in charge of No. 9 platoon. His petite size and the sleek moustache is not intimidating at first, until he displays his strict side towards the young soldiers. The brutal strictness of discipline that the corporal is known for changes once he has a taste of the frontlines. Thereafter a new soft tender person is born in the need for companionship.
Himmelstoss, ” had the reputation of being the strictest disciplinarian in the camp, and was proud of it.” (
In addition, the brutal trait of the Corporal is revealed is when he makes his student soldiers do chores that are just savage. For example, he makes Paul remake, ” his bed fourteen times in one morning. Each time he had some fault to find.” (
Finally, the sympathetic quality of Corporal Himmelstoss is discovered when he changes form a malevolent to a benevolent person. This change occurs when he is sent out in the trenches with his soldiers. The alteration in behavior is sighted first when he treats Paul and his crew, ” in the canteen when [they] are out of funds.” (Page 120) It can be determined that the stern Corporal is showing a softer side in his character. He is helping the same soldiers who he gave a hard time to.