Change In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front

From 1914-1918, one of the bloodiest wars in all of human history waged on. Erich Maria Remarque illustrates this reality in All Quiet on the Western Front. The novel follows a young soldier, Paul and his journey from a naive schoolboy to a hardened, experienced soldier, this change is seen quite drastically through the novel. Change is something that is unavoidable, especially in times of war. In Paul Baumer, this change is seen in his changing emotional connection to the war and his views about home. As the war progresses, Paul becomes less and less emotionally connected to the war and the people around him. In the beginning of the novel, he’s still relatively sensitive to the harsh reality of the war. When Kemmerich is suffering, Paul appears to be quite naive and prays for him, “That is Franz Kemmerich, nineteen and a half years old, he doesn't want to die. Let him not die!”(Remarque, …show more content…
It receives such high praise for its ability to realistically depict the cruelty of the war and the effect it has on the soldiers. The effect it brought is evident in the change many soldiers underwent, for Paul changed from a young, sensitive boy into a hardened, emotionless man. This change is best seen in his changing emotional connection to the war as well as his changed outlook on home. In the beginning of the novel, Paul seems very concerned about his comrades and surroundings at war, but as the novel progresses, he becomes more and more disconnected to everything around him. Additionally, war caused him to question everything Paul ever believed in, including his home. While his former hometown has experienced little change, Paul has changed drastically and no longer believes in the same principles and doesn’t connect with his family like he used to. By telling Paul’s story, Remarque is able to effectively change societies’ opinion and accurately illustrate the uncensored truth of