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

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War has been plaguing the Earth since the beginning of human civilizations. War and society cannot be talked about as a separate entity for it affects those on either side of the conflict. In the book All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, it exposes the realities of war. The book specifically takes place during World War I when the Germans invaded France and the French fought back causing the Germans to build trenches in order to establish themselves for battle. There are seven main characters that enter the front lines together. An important thing to note is that six of the seven are around the age of nineteen. Therefore, they are just leaving school and are ignorant of the realities of war. The setting revolves around the camps and trenches. However, the hospital and home play a big role in showcasing the impact due to trauma. Not only is the book a window into the past but it also allows the reader to reflect and compare war from back then to today. There …show more content…
Ultimately, all the main characters eventually die in the book. All of Paul’s friends died and the war moved on without them. His friends were pawns in the game of war and their efforts were seemingly meaningless. There was no honor after death instead they were another number in the battlefield. In the beginning, the boys signed up for the military for honor and the objective to beat German forces. However, once in the war, all that purpose was lost and their only purpose was to live to see another day. When Paul is injured by shrapnel on the head he is sent home. On his leave, Paul reflects on life because it was rumored that the Germans would soon surrender. Rather than being happy that the war may end Paul is lost because he mentions that all he knows now is war. It is a tragedy how war can turn an average individual into an instrument of war that cannot see civilian life as a comfortable way of
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