Western Front Themes

Erich Maria Remarque wrote All Quiet on the Western Front in 1929, after Remarque had served in the trenches for the Germans during World War I. The book quickly became a bestseller throughout the world, with many people claiming the main appeal was the realism. Due to the realism of war in All Quiet on the Western Front, many governments banned or edited it, so that their populace and military wouldn’t be demoralized if they ever went to war again. This was largely caused by the underlying darkness of the book, which can be attributed to the themes that Remarque tried to project, with some critics believing that chance is the main theme of All Quiet on the Western Front, such as D'Ammassa. At further inspection of All Quiet on the Western Front, the separation of the soldiers from the rest of society, as well as the mental deterioration of the soldiers, and the release to instinct on the front line show that the main theme is more so the dehumanization of man from war and the front line. The separation of the soldiers …show more content…
At further inspection of All Quiet on the Western Front, the separation of the soldiers from the rest of society, as well as the mental deterioration of the soldiers, and the release to instinct on the front line show that the main theme is moreso the dehumanization of man from war and the front line. This theme is echoed throughout the story from the accounts of Paul and his friends who risk their lives for what they believe to be a lost cost. Something that is at the same time noble and foolhardy. This mixture of two very different ideas completely reflect the paradoxy of the time. As the Germans in an effort to save their nation, were at the same time tearing apart the country they had grown up in and loved. The mixture of fiction and realism demonstrates as to why Remarque is a truly great author that will surpass the test of