All Quiet On The Western Front By Erich Maria Remarque

WWI was a European war that occurred between 1914 and 1918 and took over 17 million lives. The war began after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand by a terrorist group fueled by nationalism. Countries entered the war as a result of contractual agreements with other nations and increasing competition for military power and imperialized colonies while individual soldiers felt inspired by the glorification of the war and a sense of pride in fighting for their country. The novel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque explores the experiences and motivations of these soldiers and how it affected them emotionally and psychologically, specifically German soldiers fighting in the Western Front. Most individuals thought that WWI was

While Paul and his comrades fight on the front lines, Paul narrates, “We have become wild beasts...It is not against men that we fling our bombs, what do we know of men in this moment when Death is hunting us down.” (Remarque 113). “Beasts” are known to rely and live by survival, and the connotation of the word “beast” implies a sense of savagery and barbarity. This prioritization of pure survival for Paul, simply being a “beast”, then neglects other humanizing proponents. These proponents include emotions of shame and guilt because of the deaths of these enemy soldiers. This neglect follows up with, “what do we know of men in this moment when Death is hunting us down.” The personification of death in this quote paints it as a physical threat within that moment. During the previous portion of the quote, “what do we know of men” is truly where the disconnect between the soldiers’ sense of humanity and their need to survive occurs as a juxtaposition between the enemy soldiers and death itself. One is viewed as frivolous and insignificant, “men” are human-beings that one can feel an emotional connection towards. However, “death” is a dire threat within that moment. They must view these individuals as nothing but obstacles and enemies to be overcome. The shame and guilt of taking

While Paul stands as a sentry one night, his mind wanders and he narrates, “Today we would pass through the scenes of our youth like travellers. We are burnt up by hard facts; like tradesmen we understand distinctions, and like butchers, necessities. We are no longer untroubled-we are indifferent...We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men...I believe we are lost” (Remarque 122). Paul “would pass through the scenes of our youth like travellers,” as in the mindsets that they once had before the war are now foreign to them. The author’s diction of the word “youth” depicts that mentality as containing hopefulness and a strong sense of a moral compass. Yet, Remarque continues on and illustrates that disappearance of hope and moral obligations as a soldier. Paul supports this by describing himself as “no longer untroubled-we are indifferent”. While younger, the virtues that he had might have distressed him emotionally since he constantly kills others as a soldier. Yet, now he is "indifferent" or no longer cares about these many deaths. Remarque supports this with the simile, “like tradesmen we understand distinctions, and like butchers, necessities.” While killing an animal might appear morally wrong, a butcher is forced to kill the animal anyway just to live another day. Similar to soldiers, as they must constantly kill others to survive, a mentally daunting task that a “youth” with