Paige Sherlock
English 2
First Analytical Essay
Topic 3
Changing a Global Perspective
All Quiet on the Western Front, an international bestseller, was named the greatest war novel of all time for a multitude of reasons. These reasons do not include his ability to tell an enticing story or describe key points in great detail, but because it changed the perspective of millions of people all over the world and their concept of war. In Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, he shattered the idea of war everyday citizens had by telling the story of a platoons journey in gruesome detail and unveiling the truth about the horrors of war. Erich Maria Remarque’s primary war experience enabled him to compose a raw war story about his own experiences …show more content…
Shortly into the first chapter, the young men express their resentment for the older generation who encouraged them by glorifying the act of war by bribing them with a sense of honor and pride when they return. They trusted the older generation because “the idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom.” (Remarque 12) They are not told is that most of them will not make it home alive or that they will barely have enough to eat. Remarque shines light on the realities of war through expressing in great detail the magnitude of danger every situation entailed. For the public, Remarque’s description of Kemmerich’s leg amputation, hiding in coffins, watching a company man die a slow death and stabbing a french soldier gave them a glimpse of what really goes on in battle that they have never been exposed to, taking away the glorification of all ideas they had about war. Remarque’s personal experience with war was enough to fuel him in writing this powerful novel, enlightening millions on a global scale about the reality of the horrific nature of war. This novel was powerful enough to change the views of everyday citizens by tying the reader in emotionally and eliminating all senses of romantics in warfare, and ultimately changed a global
English 2
First Analytical Essay
Topic 3
Changing a Global Perspective
All Quiet on the Western Front, an international bestseller, was named the greatest war novel of all time for a multitude of reasons. These reasons do not include his ability to tell an enticing story or describe key points in great detail, but because it changed the perspective of millions of people all over the world and their concept of war. In Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, he shattered the idea of war everyday citizens had by telling the story of a platoons journey in gruesome detail and unveiling the truth about the horrors of war. Erich Maria Remarque’s primary war experience enabled him to compose a raw war story about his own experiences …show more content…
Shortly into the first chapter, the young men express their resentment for the older generation who encouraged them by glorifying the act of war by bribing them with a sense of honor and pride when they return. They trusted the older generation because “the idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom.” (Remarque 12) They are not told is that most of them will not make it home alive or that they will barely have enough to eat. Remarque shines light on the realities of war through expressing in great detail the magnitude of danger every situation entailed. For the public, Remarque’s description of Kemmerich’s leg amputation, hiding in coffins, watching a company man die a slow death and stabbing a french soldier gave them a glimpse of what really goes on in battle that they have never been exposed to, taking away the glorification of all ideas they had about war. Remarque’s personal experience with war was enough to fuel him in writing this powerful novel, enlightening millions on a global scale about the reality of the horrific nature of war. This novel was powerful enough to change the views of everyday citizens by tying the reader in emotionally and eliminating all senses of romantics in warfare, and ultimately changed a global