All Quiet on the Western Front
...s shot and before he dies he wants Muller to have his boots because he knows how hard it is for a soldiers to get materials and how much the materials that you do have can determine your future. “ For a while he lies still. Then he says, “ You can take my lace up boots with you for Muller” (Remarque 28). This quote shows that life is expandable, whereas materials are essential. Remarque uses characterization to show how the life of a soldier is expandable and that materials are worth more than life. As a soldier your life is almost meaningless. As the story continues Remarque also continues to show examples of how materials mean more than life. Kemmerich has died and the doctor needs the bed for Morris 2 another wounded soldier; “ We must take him away at once, we want the bed” (Remarque 32). In this quote the doctor is talking to Muller and tells him they need Kemmerich’s deathbed for another injured soldier. In this case the Army’s doctor needs his materials and at the same time shows no emotion towards Kemmerich’s death and yet he needs to move on to the next patient. Materials are so scarce that Muller and Remarque keep making such a big deal about the boots Kemmerich ga...