The novel Stranger To Myself is a viscous and deadly biography about war. Willy Peter Reese who recorded these true events and witnessed World War II war was suddenly changed by these events. He was just a soldier in the German army leading himself and his fellow comrades into dangers of Russia’s territory. Willy Peter Reese wanted to be a poet/writer before being drafted in the army causing his dreams to go to a harsh stop. He was very religious person who worshipped God in everything he did. Willy Peter Reese was a good man but the war caused him to change in negative ways causing him to turn away from god and let the war take the best of him.
Willy Peter Reese was a person who was truly down to earth type of person. His appearance wasn’t said much in the story but I knew for a fact he wore glasses. Willy was a very moody type of person In general. “Autumn gave me an induction in death and its various fruits.” Like the quote the simplest touch of Autumn can change the whole way Willy thinks in his brain. The Autumn lead to winter with him getting more about death and struggling to think of God. “Lost myself once more in endless nighttime conversations about the futility of life, the mask of God, the magic of the devil, and the tragedy of existence.” Willy’s traits were a little different than most people’s personality but everybody has their issues. The first event that really had a huge effect on Willy was winter. In winter Willy showed how he mentally acted in this stage of the season. He seemed to look more towards the devil and have thoughts that would be just terrible. “The paths of childhood, the peregrinations of youth, and all the roads of love led in to the, dark and the hourglass shattered in my hand.” Also, It was to a point where he was thinking about suicide. “Dreams, despair, and thoughts of death came to me.” This event showed you later on how he acted in the war while fight the Russians. It shows how he participates in cruel activities and witnessing them to.
The second event, which took place, was in winter during the World War II in Russia. This was a very tragic and hallow event that was at a farm nearby a village. “On the first day of the offensive battle we attacked a village”. Willy Peter Reese and his comrades were trying to take over. Willy Peter Reese witnessed his comrade do cruel sins watching his comrades go in to the farm with him traveling along in the freezing blizzard. “The soldier smashed in the farmers skull, shot the farmer’s wife, and furiously torched the place.” This did some damage to Willy mentally. This had to be the toughest thing he ever did. His comrade did what the General to him to do. Willy was in complete shock of what his comrade did.
Willy Peter Reese changed dramatically to the first pages of his diary to his last. Willy Peter Reese changed by witnessing his comrades kill citizens with no purpose and sometimes participates in these. Then He stared think about how God will never forgive him for what he did. He started turning towards the Devil in a kind of way. “I drifted like a shipwrecked sailor through the clams of fate.” Willy tried to stay on the path of God but the war kept showing Willy the darkness .Also, Willy felt guilty of what hid did/saw and it just kept tearing him down.
Finally, A Stanger To Myself was a biography that blew me away by some of the events that happen. I was impressed on how Willy Peter Reese went through these tragic but at the end did make it through. He died on 1941-1944. He was sent home on 1943 from a wound and soon later died on 1944. His mom kept his diary secure. His mother soon later died sometime in 1996-2001 and the diary was soon found and published. It makes me wonder If Willy went to heaven with God like he wanted to before the war. Willy Peter Reese was a good man but the war caused him to change in negative ways causing him to turn away from god and let the war take the best of him.
