Passage from All Quiet on the Western Front

Passage from All Quiet on the Western Front

       “One morning two butterflies play in front of our trench. They are brimstone-butterflies, with red spots on their yellow wings. What can they be looking for here? There is not a plant nor a flower for mies. They settle on the teeth of a skull. The birds are just as carefree, they have long since accustomed themselves to the war. Every morning larks ascend from No Man’s Land. A year ago we watched them nesting; the young ones grew up too.” (page 127)
       This passage resembles an important point on how much the setting in the story changes over time. At the beginning of the book I remember a passage (on page 9) where it talked how beautiful two butterflies were when playing in a meadow. Then in the midst of war two of the same kind of butterflies settle on a skull. The "butterflies playing" puts an image of happiness in my brain, meanwhile they are in the gloom of war. The lyrics "In the midst of the darkness your the light that guides me through" is from one of my favorite songs and it instantly popped into my head. I think that even in the worst conditions a spark of light is possible.
       This passage has such a great emphasis on the light and darkness of war. It also has a good choice of words and a deep and meaningful voice. I love the little touch of nature, with a pinch of sadness for the soldiers.