ost-enlisted society. This society embraces him as he embraces it; there is a feeling of family amongst the comrades. In the novel there is a point where Baumer is pinned down in a shell hole and becomes disoriented and has a panic attack. He says Tormented, terrified, in my imagination, I see the grey, implacable muzzle of a rifle which moves noiselessly before him whichever was I try to turn my head(P. 184-185). He is unable to snap out of the trance until he hears voices behind him. He recognizes the voices and realizes that he is close to his comrades in his own trench. Baumer begins to comprehend that the reviving effects of his comrades words were much stronger and powerful than anything that his family or friends could ever say to him. He notices that the words of the traditional world have no meaning, and the words of his comrades have more meaning than they are even aware of. Baumer ponders the effects of words for a long time. He begins to look deeper into the language of both worlds. He comes to the assumption that the pre-enlistment society has misled many including him. He noticed that teachers and parents had used words passionately at times to persuade him and other young men to enlist in the war effort. Baumer admits that fast talking adults duped him and the others who had enlisted. Parents were among the worst of these talkers. They would even be ready to use the word coward to make their point heard. By remembering those days, Baumer as a result of his war experiences, sees just how shallow and empty people of that society can use language. The subject that was talked about always protected the shallow and emptiness of the conversation. Usually the topic of conversation was ones love for their country. Early in the war, Baumer remembers the authority figures of the past taught that duty to ones country is the greatest thing, but he soon realized that death-throes are stronger. Teachers and parents w...
