“Hurt people, Hurt people” is a quote my father often refers to in hard times. It means that often when humans are hurting, usually meaning mentally hurting, we have tendencies to turn to others and take out our pain and anger on them. This can result in people being extremely angry and spreading that on, which in this case can lead to war.
The novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque explores the topic of hurt in several ways. in the novel, the characters experience physical and emotional hurt in the harsh environment of the front.
In the novel, the young soldiers like Paul Baumer and his friends are put in extreme physical and emotional pain because of the brutality of the war. They witness the deaths of their friends and endure the constant fear and stress of combat. These experiences can leave deep scars and I believe they were extremely transformed by these happenings.
As a result of the trauma and suffering they endure, the soldiers become almost immune to violence and emotions. They are also hardened and less empathetic, as they need to adapt to the harsh ways of the battlefield to survive. This emotional transformation can lead them to hurt others, both during combat and in the way they interact with people after the war.
Before you choose to retaliate to someone making your life difficult, consider the hurt they could be going through below the surface.