Corporal Himmelstoss is a character from All Quiet on the Western Front. He is not the main character,
however in my opinion he plays a very important role in portraying a flaw that
many people have. Corporal Himmelstoss was a post-man before the war and led a
rather ordinary life. Once he was recruited into the army and was put in a position
of power everything about him changed. He was a cruel, relentless leader who
took pleasure in the punishment of those beneath him. His power and rank meant
everything to him.
In a way, Himmelstoss’s harsh leadership reflects his own insecurities as
a person. Clearly he felt the need to embarrass and torture his soldiers to
make himself feel better. Nevertheless,
the things that he subjects his men to somewhat help them when they are put out
on the front line. For example when Himmelstoss made the boys stand outside
with no gloves on when it was really cold out; it was cruel and mean to do
that, but the men were also more prepared and appreciated their gloves after
that point.
Finally, Corporal Himmelstoss was put on the front line, where his
authority meant nothing and he was subjected to the same things the men under
him were subjected to. He began to understand the horror of the trenches and
how normal human things don’t matter when you teetering between life and death.
He tried to make amends for the torture that he put his men through but many of
the grudges were too deep. The men actually ended up beating and whipping
Corporal Himmelstoss to express how unwelcome he was among them and how they
were not quick to forget the punishment that he put them through.
Himmelstoss is a perfect example of a man overcome with power and petty
insecurities. The way that he acts once put on the front line is also an
example of how postitions and rank don’t matter on the battle field and one doesn’t
even have their humanity to govern things. He let his power get to his head and
he became an cruel, power-hungry leader.
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