Soldier X

Within Soldier X, clothes—in particular, military uniforms—are a symbol of identity. While this is inherently part of the purpose of a uniform itself, the novel extends the symbol and repeatedly exaggerates how uniforms work as a shorthand for personal belief and loyalty, replacing individuality with conformity and assumptions. The use of uniforms contrasts heavily with the first-person narration, allowing the reader to experience X as an individual rather than a nameless soldier, contrasting with the perception of others—while some more disconnected from the military view him as an individual, most simply see him as another faceless member of the army whose uniform he wears. X is also able to become a liminal figure—a figure who operates between boundaries—using uniforms. They symbolize his ability to fluidly move between his nationalities, as all he must do to “become” Russian is wear a Russian uniform. In the war-torn Eastern front, people do not have time for individuality or specifics; the uniform is enough to convey someone’s entire belief system and even value as a person.

Significant, too, is that the German uniforms are all reused from dead soldiers, leaving bloodstains, obvious signs of wear and repair, and other grisly reminders of their origin.