Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

War

We thought about recruiting Corporal Himmelstoss for the antagonist spot—he and Paul often clash with each other. But while the two have their differences, Paul isn't in conflict with Himmelstoss throughout the film. Himmelstoss's cruelty is just one part of a larger, crueler evil in Paul's life: war.

The story's main conflict is that war's the antithesis of everything that Paul is. Paul's an individual, but war requires everyone to sacrifice their individuality for the cause. Paul has no stake in the fight, but the nation does. Paul has no desire to kill men, but war forces him to do so in order to survive.