All Quiet on the Western Front
In the book Quiet on the Western Front Chapter 7 annotate Paul's emotional responses to the final incidents on leave
Annotate chapter 7
Annotate chapter 7
Paul returns home to his eldest sister and his mother, who is sick. Paul hears the idealistic talk of civilians, and feels very disenchanted. Paul wants peace, to forget about the front, but everyone he meets keeps asking him to talk about it. He prefers to be alone. Leave is not the enjoyable experience he’d hoped it would be. He also sees that Kantorek has been called up by the government to serve in a defense unit.
Before Paul leaves, he visits Kemmerich’s mother. Kemmerich’s mother makes Paul swear on his own life that Kemmerich died instantly. Paul does: sometimes lies are better than the truth. He then says goodbye to his mother, and returns.