Throughout the novel, the theme of nature was carried out consistently, along with other lesser themes, in order to correctly acknowledge the literal and figurative meanings of what war was really comprised of. The dignified war novel All Quiet on the Western Front’s author, Erich Maria Remarque, had the intention to depict the idea of nature in sporadic, yet dramatic ways. The soldiers, including the main protagonist, Paul, often reflected on the significance of nature as another type of defense mechanism, in which the beauty and calmness of nature assisted them in restoring their ability to move forward; in their ability to sustain and keep hold of the last shred of humanity in them. Remarque frequently referred to the reoccurring theme in …show more content…
In order for them to cope with such death and destruction, the adolescents must disconnect themselves from their emotions, suppress their feelings, and accept the agonizing conditions of their lives. Eventually, they learned to displace their emotions and to daydream freely when surrounded by the chirping birds and frail butterflies; “One morning two butterflies play in front of our trench. They are brimstone-butterflies, with red spots on their yellow wings… They settle on the teeth of a skull. The birds too are just as carefree, they have long since accustomed themselves to the war.”; (Remarque 127). The brimstone-butterflies that were mentioned within the novel represented the beauty of nature, fragility of life, and vulnerability of existence. Despite the struggles of war, they acted as an illumination and a reminder to Paul and the other comrades that even beauty could be present in the ugliest situations, as well as, how majestic the world truly is. With how delicate the birds and butterflies generally are, they represent the purification and innocence of all life. They certainly reflect the peaceful workings of nature. Overall, the juxtaposition between the violent battle front and nature’s beauty, as well as, humanity was inconsistent throughout. To elaborate, although the harshness of war rages on, the world outside of it is constantly changing and moving forward as the birds and butterflies “have long since accustomed themselves to the
All Quiet On The Western Front is an account of WW1, from the perspective of a soldier named Paul Baumer. The author of the novel, Erich Maria Remarque, based the novel on his own life as he too fought in the war and was transferred to the Western Front. The war destroyed the men that took part in it. Simply put Remarque’s novel is an example of how the war has shaped history and if it were not read we would still be at war like they were in WW1, disoriented and unorganized.
In the horrible first war, soldiers often found peace and comfort in nature. In Erich Maria Remarque’s novel All Quiet on the Western Front many soldiers are often drawn to nature to provide comfort and peace. Young Paul Baumer, the central character in the novel, frequently looks to nature for comfort in the midst of the war going on around him. Remarque reveals in this novel that it is possible to make a connection to something so pure while in the midst of something horrific and unnatural like war.
In All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich M. Remarque, his tone is rather depressing. He uses Paul to explain his thoughts and opinions of war. Using Paul as the storyteller helps to trouble the reader, yet still makes Paul portray as calm. In addition to his sincere tone, Remarque uses imagery to make it feel as if the reader were one of the soldiers in war. Both of these key elements for a novel come together quite well and make for an interesting war story.
He explores the grim reality the soldiers' faced on a daily basis and demonstrates the tremendous toll the war took on the mental and physical condition of the soldiers. The author, Erich Remarque depicts the brutality of the front and how the war brainwashes many people into thinking that their opponents are evil. The impulse of Paul killing his opponent shows the survival and fear of death. It is not against the men that they fling their bombs, but it is the idea of them being killed in an instance and ending their lives at a very young age. Out of 4 stars I would rate this novel a 4 out of 4 because of its description of how the war changed a nation and its people. All Quiet On The Western Front paints a very vivid picture of the realities of WW1 and the nature of warfare experienced by the soldiers' at the front. The impact of the war of those at the front was undoubtedly life altering for the few who were lucky to survive, the consequences of which would be witnessed in civilian life for generations to come until the process repeated
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, is a novel illustrating the struggles in World War 1. Paul, whom the novel is based upon, is forced to change his personality to avoid mental damage during war. Paul and his group of friends are altered not only physically, but also mentally. Experiences during war causes them to cast their emotions away to avoid getting hurt emotionally. Paul and his comrades are being shaped by the experiences during war and are beginning to accept that life is fragile. As war drags on, death becomes common enough to become a casual thing for Paul. When Paul goes back to talk to Kemmerich’s mother, he is shock how much pain she is in, “. . . she strikes me as rather stupid all the same. . .Kemmerich
When someone is put in a situation of horror and destruction, it is only natural for beauty to deteriorate from one’s life. All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Remarque perfectly illustrates the destruction war has on the beauty of the ordinary world. Paul’s alienation from home eventually causes him to lose sight of what life should be like, who he is and the importance of relationships.
One of the best, if not the best war novels that is Erich Remarque's “All Quiet on the
All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque in 1929. The novel is narrated by a young man named Paul who recently graduated from high school and is enlisted in the army during the first world war. During the first five chapters, there are three motifs that are consistent. These include animal instincts, horror, and nature.
In 1929 Erich Maria Remarque published a vivid novel that highlighted the brutality of war, All Quiet on the Western Front. Remarque takes the reader on the journey of nineteen-year-old Paul Baumer, a young soldier fighting on the front line for Germany during World War I. Despite its critical acclaim, this celebrated war novel did little to celebrate war.
He was alone. There were so many dead people lying on the ground, and an awful smell of cigar smoke, gunpowder, and dirt that filled the air. There was no nationalism; all Paul wanted was survival. World War I was supposed to be about nationalism and the propaganda forced upon the soldiers to feel superiority over other countries, but Paul helps to prove otherwise, as his story tells what is was like to be at the front, and how tough it was to be a soldier. “All Quiet on the Western Front” portrays war as it was actually experienced, replacing the romantic picture of glory and heroism with an unromantic vision of fear and a meaninglessness feeling. “All Quiet on the Western Front” gives the impression that it is an antiwar novel, due to the deterioration of the war as life becomes meaningless and how brutal Paul and his fellow soldiers’ lives were as the novel went along as there is no nationalism to catalyze their fighting.
Throughout the story “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque contrast is used in many different ways. By using contrast he shows the relationship of the peaceful images of nature with the “quietness” that does not exist on the front, the home life and life at the front, and comradeship and the process of dehumanization. Remarque’s use of contrast in the story is extensive, he shows how war can be a union of opposing forces in a stunning agreement. First, he uses the relationship between the images of nature with the images of war to contrast how the characters felt in the story.
he meal scene in chapter 10 of All Quiet on the Western Front is a sharp contrast from the earlier chapters in the novel. Readers observe the men have a chance to unwind and enjoy the the general amenities of life that they rarely have the time to exhibit during their duty at war. From the tone of the narrator, readers will notice a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere that is created among the interactions between men coming together and sharing goods they worked to find around the village. “So we zealously set to work to create an idyll-an idyll of eating and sleeping of course” (232), summarizes the soldier’s initiative which deviates from the animalistic and hostile course of action the men rely on to survive while fighting on the front.
Imagery is often used to allow the reader to develop a fuller understanding of the plot, characters, and setting. In Erich Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, he uses imagery to help the reader understand the experience of war. Imagery allows the reader to comprehend Paul’s thoughts and to relate with the other characters. It makes the war realistic and provides a deeper understanding of the war because it affects all of the senses. Remarque uses imagery to emphasize the themes of war and to demonstrate the contrasts of war during battles and in the meantime.
The novel All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is story of the fictional character Paul Baumer and his troop Troop 9 as they battle in World War I on the Western Front for Germany. This novel differs from most war novels in that it does not portray the men as valiant soldiers protecting their country. The way that the story is told strips away the romanticized view warfare and portrays the raw emotions that come with being on the front lines of a battle. As both Paul Baumer’s life and the battle progress, Paul’s values, along with those of the other soldiers, evolve until they culminate in Baumer’s own passing.
There is no doubt that war can have a huge physical and psychological impact on the people involved in it. World War I was an enormous outburst which caused millions of fatal deaths and injuries. The novel All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque, is narrated by Paul who is a young student that joins the army alongside his friends. The novel shows Paul’s perspective on joining the army and experiencing his first role in the battlefield. Furthermore, it shows the different aspects that a war changes about a person. All Quiet on the Western Front's main characters of the lost generation represent three key factors of the First World War; the naivety and inexperience of the youth, the irreversible changes soldiers go through, and the affects on an individual's emotions.