All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, takes place on the Western Front of World War I. The narrator and main character of the book is Paul Baumer, a nineteen-year-old boy who fights for the German forces. The book follows the lives of Paul and his fellow schoolmates who have all enlisted in the German forces with the encouragement of their schoolmaster, Kantorek. Throughout the book, we follow their lives and deaths and everything in-between. We are introduced to the horrors of war that they faced, and the horrible outcomes of these situations. The novel starts out with Paul and his company five miles behind the front. They are enjoying some rare and much needed rest, and Paul is reflecting on their situation and what
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Paul is resting because of the gas that he has been exposed to. He ponders on what it means to go home after everything he has endured. Armistice means that the soldiers can go home, but are damaged beyond repair. Paul is sent back to the front, after recovering from the gas. A month before the armistice, Paul dies at the front. The story of All Quiet on the Western Front, holds a very important message to the readers. Remarque used his own experiences in the war to tell a story that represents the horrors of war and the effects of it on the human condition. He brings into question the importance of: a lost generation, betrayal, humanity, comradeship, and nature. The lost generation refers to the millions of young men who were injured and killed in World War I. These young men felt betrayed by their teachers, families, and government. This can be seen multiple times throughout the book. Particularly, in Chapter Nine, when the Kaiser comes to inspect Paul’s company. After the Kaiser’s visit, Paul and his friends wonder what good is war and who is in the right. They argue that each side will think they are in the right, but who really is? “We are here to protect our fatherland. And the French are over there to protect their fatherland. Now who’s in the right?” They go on to argue about how they did not want the war and if nobody else does, then why do they happen? They realize that wars benefit only those in charge. “Every full grown emperor requires at least one war, otherwise he would not become famous. …And generals too… they become famous through war.” We see a generation of men, who have sacrificed their lives and who they are, for the wants of those in
Paul is resting because of the gas that he has been exposed to. He ponders on what it means to go home after everything he has endured. Armistice means that the soldiers can go home, but are damaged beyond repair. Paul is sent back to the front, after recovering from the gas. A month before the armistice, Paul dies at the front. The story of All Quiet on the Western Front, holds a very important message to the readers. Remarque used his own experiences in the war to tell a story that represents the horrors of war and the effects of it on the human condition. He brings into question the importance of: a lost generation, betrayal, humanity, comradeship, and nature. The lost generation refers to the millions of young men who were injured and killed in World War I. These young men felt betrayed by their teachers, families, and government. This can be seen multiple times throughout the book. Particularly, in Chapter Nine, when the Kaiser comes to inspect Paul’s company. After the Kaiser’s visit, Paul and his friends wonder what good is war and who is in the right. They argue that each side will think they are in the right, but who really is? “We are here to protect our fatherland. And the French are over there to protect their fatherland. Now who’s in the right?” They go on to argue about how they did not want the war and if nobody else does, then why do they happen? They realize that wars benefit only those in charge. “Every full grown emperor requires at least one war, otherwise he would not become famous. …And generals too… they become famous through war.” We see a generation of men, who have sacrificed their lives and who they are, for the wants of those in