Erich Maria Remarque knew firsthand the torment of fighting on the front lines when he penned his most famous novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. Remarque was drafted in WWI as a college student and was seriously injured a whopping total of five times. (“Erich Maria Remarque”). Authors such as Remarque use their novels to provide a social commentary and indirectly influence readers. While reading this novel, it was very clear to me what the author’s political viewpoint on war was. Remarque fictionalizes WWI to enforce the ideas of pacifism and inform readers about the horrors of war. Unlike many other war novels, the purpose of All Quiet on the Western Front is not to glorify war, but to condemn it.
One point that Remarque makes is that was is a waste. Paul and his comrades are fighting and dying over something that they personally have no issue about. They’re fighting another man’s war. The character Kropp suggests that “declaration of war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing-drawers and armed with clubs, can have it out among themselves. Whoever …show more content…
It’s an opinion piece. Remarque probably didn’t feel like his point would be taken seriously had he written an article or expository essay. It certainly wouldn’t have gone down in history as “the greatest war novel of all time.” All Quiet on the Western Front is an outlet for Remarque’s views on society and his anti-war philosophy. He provides a social commentary in the hopes of persuading readers that war is never the right thing. I think that Remarque definitely achieved this goal. I have a new perspective on war, now that I have seen it first hand through Paul’s eyes. Remarque uses his book to convey information about the futility of killing one another for political means, PTSD, and to mystify war for the common
One point that Remarque makes is that was is a waste. Paul and his comrades are fighting and dying over something that they personally have no issue about. They’re fighting another man’s war. The character Kropp suggests that “declaration of war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance-tickets and bands, like a bull fight. Then in the arena the ministers and generals of the two countries, dressed in bathing-drawers and armed with clubs, can have it out among themselves. Whoever …show more content…
It’s an opinion piece. Remarque probably didn’t feel like his point would be taken seriously had he written an article or expository essay. It certainly wouldn’t have gone down in history as “the greatest war novel of all time.” All Quiet on the Western Front is an outlet for Remarque’s views on society and his anti-war philosophy. He provides a social commentary in the hopes of persuading readers that war is never the right thing. I think that Remarque definitely achieved this goal. I have a new perspective on war, now that I have seen it first hand through Paul’s eyes. Remarque uses his book to convey information about the futility of killing one another for political means, PTSD, and to mystify war for the common