Paul describes the front as a “mysterious whirlwind” into which “irresistibly, inevitably” (55) one is drawn. “irresistibly” darkly explains how overwhelming the battle can be – it’s impossible to avoid and drags him into it without his consent. “Irresistible” is a word to describe things one desires, and many soldiers desire to fight on the front lines. Many young men have been led to believe that war will make everyone a hero – which may be true in some situations, but Paul finds this propaganda used by Kantorek and others to be false. This supports the idea of ​​appearance versus reality; War seems to be the fertile ground for heroism, but it often results in selfishness and death. “Inevitably” expresses the feeling of suffocation felt by Paul. Later in the passage, when the connection a soldier feels with the land is described, "buries" and "smothers" are two verbs used. These verbs also bring connotations of suffocation and non-escape, which are recurring feelings throughout the novel. Paul's life should be carefree, but he finds himself plunged into this war situation, which cuts off an important period of his life: his maturation as an adult. He feels trapped in his life because he has two conflicting feelings: he doesn't want to be at war, for obvious reasons like danger and terror. However, this has become what he is used to and his past life is very vague. Unlike older soldiers, who can look back on their past lives and have a strong desire to return to them, Paul and his comrades have no connection to any life. This awareness contributes to the suffocation he feels. A prayer is addressed to the Earth, using prayer-like words like “thy redeemed” and “O Earth.” See all the terrors of war have turned men away...... middle of paper ...... Animals, for the most part, have no control over their destiny and submit to higher powers, unlike to man, who tries to control his own life. The earth is personified when referred to as a friend, a brother and a mother. These soldiers do not have the protection that a family offers. In the same way that Earth becomes a form of religious figure, she also becomes someone they can trust to keep them safe. One cannot always fully rely on his fellow soldiers, but the land that surrounds him always provides a source of stability. Repetition is used when the word "earth" is repeated three times. It is used to emphasize the importance of this word and the value it holds for soldiers. Being pressed to the ground means safety to these men, and in the chaos of combat, it is sometimes the only safe object they can see. Sometimes it's the only thing that offers support.