Analysis Of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front

Historians agree that World War I was a major war that still impacts countries all over the globe. It all started when central countries in Europe such as Germany, Britain, and France wanted to conquer more colonies, and to display their powerful military strength. While these countries intended to end the war quickly, the war lasted for four long and arduous years from 1914 to 1918. In addition, many individuals were pressured to take part in the war because they were forced to believe that they would be considered a disgrace if they did not. All Quiet on the Western Front, a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque, recounts the experiences of a German soldier named Paul Baumer who was persuaded to fight during the four years of the war. The

This can be seen when Paul receives a leave from his duty to return home. As he walks around his room to familiarize himself with his life prior to the war, Paul ruminates how “the room shall speak, it must catch me up and hold me, I want to feel that I belong here, … I wait, I wait. Images float through my mind, but they do not grip me, they are mere shadows and memories” (Remarque 172). Soldiers like Paul have been away for such a long period of time that the horrendous moments of endless bloodshed the individuals witness on the war front cause them to be fragile, both physically and emotionally. Thus, the author personifies the room as a guardian figure; someone who can “hold” and comfort soldiers from all the distress. He desires to feel as if he “belongs” at home, and wants to forget about events on the battlefront. Paul can reminisce the “images” of his life before the war, yet feels like they can not “grip” on to him to restore the connection with his past. He now views those memories as “mere shadows” that just linger, and have no meaning to him. Even the room who is suppose to be his guardian cannot protect and comfort him due to the horrors that war contain. The war has ultimately altered his whole life and it is quite impossible to redeem what he had lost. Even though most soldiers try to regain their original identity before the war, the war has completely

When the war ended, the Allies felt furious for being involved in such an extended war. Consequently, the Allies established the Treaty of Versailles, stating that Germany is held accountable for starting the war, as written in article 231 of the treaty (Treaty of Versailles). Germany had to compensate war reparations to all the countries that it fought against (Treaty of Versailles). Because the government hoped that printing extra money would help pay off the debt quickly, the whole country suffered from a tremendous level of inflation (“Hyperinflation and Debt”). For example, the value of the money decreased so tremendously that citizens would use their money as a replacement of wood for their fires, and children would play with stacks of money as if they were toy blocks (“Hyperinflation and Debt”). As a consequence of hyperinflation, many complications arose for the Germans. The citizens who were deep in poverty felt quite desperate to obtain help so they turned to fascism, where the government took full control of the society. Because the country was in a powerless state, the Nazi Party found its way to become the new political party. They promised to provide food and jobs for the local citizens, as well as terminate the reparation payments so that Germany could