How Should War Be Shown Throughout All Quiet On The Western Front?

From the beginning Paul has many doubts about his life after the war. Compared to the older men, he had no career or love to hopefully reunite with. As he imagines a life away from the violence, he realizes these boys entered the war before

In All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul is morphed from an innocent child into a war veteran who has a new look on society. Paul used to have a carefree life where he was able to be a kid, but when he enlisted into the army it all changed. Paul became a person whose beliefs were changed because of the war. Paul doesn't believe in society anymore especially parents, elders, and school, which used to play a big part in his life. He changed his beliefs because society does not really understand how bad war really is and pushed many young men, who were not ready, into the army. Paul connects with his fellow soldiers because they are going through the same situation and

The topic of war is hard to imagine from the perspective of one who hasn't experienced it. Literature makes it accessible for the reader to explore the themes of war. Owen and Remarque both dipcik what war was like for one who has never gone through it. Men in both All Quiet on the Western Front and “Dulce Et Decorum” experience betrayal of youth, horrors of war and feelings of camaraderie.

“We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but also we distinguished the false from the true, we had suddenly learned to see. And we saw that there was nothing of their world left” (Remarque, 13). From the top of the pyramid to the youth of the nation were imposed nationalistic ideals. Through teachers and parents, young kids in high school were taught to be patriotic. Peer pressure didn’t help, for to decline service of their country was to be ostracized from their peers. Paul learned quickly that the idea of patriotism and military service was

Iron - In the book we hear the term "The Iron Youth" used to describe Paul 's generation. "The Iron Youth" is an ideal of a strong Fatherland-lovin ' group of young soldiers who enlist and fight in the war as a way of showing pride for Germany and its history. The author and characters in the book tear this ideal apart, feeling it to be useless and empty when compared with the realities of war. These young soldiers are not made of "iron," but of flesh and blood. The term "iron" would suggest they are protected emotionally and physically against all weapons of war, but this book proves to us that that is completely false. Lives melt away in the arms of this violent war.

In the incredible book, All Quiet on the Western Front written by Erich Maria Remarque, the reader follows Paul Baumer, a young man who enlisted in the war. The reader goes on a journey and watches Paul and his comrades face the sheer brutality of war. In this novel, the author tries to convey the fact that war should not be glorified. Through bombardment, gunfire, and the gruesome images painted by the author, one can really understand what it would have been like to serve on the front lines in the Great War. The sheer brutality of the war can be portrayed through literary devices such as personification, similes, and metaphors.

One of the first times that the book gives any indication of the soldiers’ feelings towards the previous generation was very early on. Paul recalls how he felt after the first death he witnessed, “We had to recognize that our generation was more to be trusted than theirs” (12). He said this in reference to how the more hardened troops who had already seen combat made fun of the fresher recruits because to them they represented the idea of authority. He made it clear that they did not blame the less experienced soldiers and still trusted them more than they trusted the older generation.

While on leave, Paul also visits his father and some of his father's friends, but does not wish to speak to them about the war. The men are "curious [about the war] in a way that [Paul finds] stupid and distressing." They try to imagine what war is like but they have never experienced it for themselves, so they cannot see the reality of it. When Paul tries to state his opinion, the men argue that "[he] sees only [his] general sector so [he is] not able to judge." These men believe they know more about the war and this makes Paul feel lost. He realizes that "they are different men here, men [he] can not understand..." and Paul wants to be back with those he can relate to, his fellow soldiers. Paul wishes he had never gone on leave because out there "[he] was a soldier, but [at home] he is nothing but an agony to himself." When Paul returns to the battlefield, he is excited to be with his comrades. When he sees his company, "[Paul] jumps up, pushes in amongst them, [his] eyes searching," until he finds his friends. It is then

During the bombardment in the trenches, Paul considers himself and other soldiers “wild beasts”, “thugs,” “murderers,” and “devils” because they make decisions based on instinct without the slightest thought of justice or logic (113-114). After the counter-attack, Paul shares that the soldiers return to a human-like state. They do not return to men because the war continues to hinder their sense of justice: “Then gradually we become something like men again” (118). Paul’s alienation from his civilized home destroys his previously academic thoughts and replaces them with impulses. Not only has the war reduced Paul’s judgement to instinct, it has also “pierced and shattered” his soul (115).

The novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” has many images of war and truly demonstrates the horrors the soldiers experienced. The author constantly provides surreal scenes that make the reader stop and think about how terrible the war was. One image that lingers in my mind is from the beginning when the young recruit lost his helmet and when Paul tried to help him and put it back on his head the boy hugged him. War is happening all around them and Paul shows deep sympathy towards the young boy. The reader cannot help but feel for the young boy and picture him just wanting the comfort of another. Another surreal image that lingers in my mind is when Paul is on leave and loses all feeling and power when he sees his sister and home. He starts

Initially, the war is looked at as a patriotic duty, an honor. Paul explains how people in leadership positions, like his teacher, Kantorek, made being a soldier seem admirable, because “all of whom were convinced they were acting for the best—in a way that cost them nothing” (7). In sum, these people who encouraged the soldiers,

Even if Paul and his comrades do survive, they are fumbled on what they should do after the war since they had spend so much time in the war and it seems that it is all they know.

World War I was viewed as a new sort of war. Before World War I, wars generally did not involve nonstop fighting over a period of years. In the past the armies mostly consisted of hired mercenaries, or professionals who fought seasonally. However, the soldiers in this novel are volunteers. For Paul and his classmates, the army has become an expression of patriotic duty; they do not perceive it as a career. Outside the classroom, young men of their age faced condemnation from society if they did not join the war

War means sacrificing and dedicating your whole life and soul for your country. In the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque, demonstrates through a group of young individuals, who all volunteer their hard work for war. The main characters are Paul, Tjaden, Muller, Kropp, Leer, Westhus, Deterring, Kemmerich, Behm, Kanortek and Himmelstoss. This group of teenagers is not like your typical group of teenagers. At first glance, teenagers appear to be immature and not knowledgeable about serious matters such as war. But on a closer inspection, this group of individuals, particularly Paul Baumer presents a value within himself that drives him to be successful and sacrifice his entire life and childhood for his country.

Paul, early on in the book, realizes that war is nothing that he could’ve prepared for. Although it doesn’t mention how he initially thought of war, there is an obvious change in how he thinks of war. His change happens during and after Kemmerich’s death. Paul sees first-hand how war’s effects do not justify the means. To give context about this, Kemmerich was one of Paul’s friends that he met through basic training. When Kemmerich goes to the war front, he gets shot and has to have his leg amputated. The amputation leaves Kemmerich weak and without a will to live. Paul tries to lift his