Erich Maria Remarque was a German-born author. Born in 1898, Remarque was one of the many young men conscripted into the German Army in World War I. During his service he would be injured by shrapnel, sending him to recover at an army hospital for the remainder of the war. Following the war, he would work in many different careers such as a stonecutter, teacher, editor, journalist and librarian before he pursued his love for writing full time. As an author, he would write and published several successful books but one novel stands above them all. Following the experiences of a German soldier during World War 1, his novel All Quiet on the Western Front would be published in 1929. All Quiet on the Western Front follows the narration of a young
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Paul and friends were recruited into the army by their teacher Kantorek. Their belief into Germany was originally one of pride and honour, but quickly the real relevance of war using nationalism was meaningless. Soldiers were fighting to survive, not for the glory of their nation. Paul had a realisation that opposing armies were not really enemies but men just like that them. His experiences with Russian prisoners demonstrated how they were all prime victims of nationalism as "a word of command has made these silent figures our enemies, a word of command might transform them into our friends. At some table a document is signed by some persons whom none of us knows, and then for years together that very crime...becomes our highest aim. But who can draw such a distinction when he looks at these quiet men with their childlike faces and apostles beards." Paul realised that this nationalistic spirit is driving countless amounts of death but was a decision made by few. Leaders of nations would declare the evil that is the enemy but in reality is the suffering of individuals. The prisoners were no less different than German peasants, but nationalism sent these soldiers on both sides to fight for the same ideals. Paul would experience this entire view first hand during the French front, as he killed a French …show more content…
But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me. I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle; now I see your wife and your face and our fellowship... Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony—Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?
This experience made Paul realizes that the enemy is no different from himself. He becomes a real person as he learns his name and thinks beyond the battlefield. Paul analysis how they were 2 men forced to become enemies from the ideas of nationalism but are comrades of the same war. No reason was ever given for why Erich Remarque wrote All Quiet on the Western Front but was stated that it was for personal reasons, not for profit. I feel like though Remarque wrote the book to give an in-depth look of trench warfare and its effects, that were not commonly seen by books published after the war. Remarque depictions of the war would catch the eyes of both soldiers and civilians. He gave an opinion to the sides of the war that were commonly suppressed, but I feel like he failed in his true purpose as critics were basing their opinions solely on small aspects of the book. Although many have also praised the novel, aspects described on trench warfare would get looked over for simple things such as the representation of nuns in the hospital.
Paul and friends were recruited into the army by their teacher Kantorek. Their belief into Germany was originally one of pride and honour, but quickly the real relevance of war using nationalism was meaningless. Soldiers were fighting to survive, not for the glory of their nation. Paul had a realisation that opposing armies were not really enemies but men just like that them. His experiences with Russian prisoners demonstrated how they were all prime victims of nationalism as "a word of command has made these silent figures our enemies, a word of command might transform them into our friends. At some table a document is signed by some persons whom none of us knows, and then for years together that very crime...becomes our highest aim. But who can draw such a distinction when he looks at these quiet men with their childlike faces and apostles beards." Paul realised that this nationalistic spirit is driving countless amounts of death but was a decision made by few. Leaders of nations would declare the evil that is the enemy but in reality is the suffering of individuals. The prisoners were no less different than German peasants, but nationalism sent these soldiers on both sides to fight for the same ideals. Paul would experience this entire view first hand during the French front, as he killed a French …show more content…
But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me. I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle; now I see your wife and your face and our fellowship... Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony—Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?
This experience made Paul realizes that the enemy is no different from himself. He becomes a real person as he learns his name and thinks beyond the battlefield. Paul analysis how they were 2 men forced to become enemies from the ideas of nationalism but are comrades of the same war. No reason was ever given for why Erich Remarque wrote All Quiet on the Western Front but was stated that it was for personal reasons, not for profit. I feel like though Remarque wrote the book to give an in-depth look of trench warfare and its effects, that were not commonly seen by books published after the war. Remarque depictions of the war would catch the eyes of both soldiers and civilians. He gave an opinion to the sides of the war that were commonly suppressed, but I feel like he failed in his true purpose as critics were basing their opinions solely on small aspects of the book. Although many have also praised the novel, aspects described on trench warfare would get looked over for simple things such as the representation of nuns in the hospital.