All Quiet On The Western Front Essay

The man is an unknown character who is trying to survive by all means possible. The extract contains a bit of humour in the beginning as Raina makes fun of him by calling him a chocolate soldier. She's a little sarcastic but also means sympathy when she says, ''Oh, you are a very poor soldier; a chocolate cream soldier". When told to escape by climbing down the pipe, he hesitates as he's frightened of the fact that he might fall. This stage direction emphasises on the luxury and the build of the house. He is absolutely dazed and dreamy as mentioned and is craving a few hours of sleep. ''oh, sleep,sleep,sleep,undisturbed sleep.'' This line tells us that the war has drained him straight through and that it has been continous and tiresome. Raina warns him about the possibility of him being captured but since he craves nothing but sleep, he associates death with eternal sleep and pefers to be captured. This shows that sleep is slowly and mercilessly taking over the desire to survive. He must have been a brave soldier to have given his complete momentum and will to fight for his country. He thinks climbing down the pipe would be an exerting task and is tired at the very thought of it. Raina understands that he is exhausted from war and is not thinking straight. She is curious to know if he really is that sleepy. ''I've not had two hours undistured sleep since I joined.''

This shows that she is curious and cares for him and isn't only rushing him out for her sake. ''I shall sleep as if the stones were a feathered bed." This shows that he isn't afraid but also that, he is still dazed and his need for sleep is still luring and messing with his mind. He is willing to try and escape to survive but isn't worried about the end. He thinks about sleep at the end of all of this and hence, delightfully answers Raina sarcastically and says