All Quiet on the Western Front Research Paper

All Quiet On the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, utilizes figurative language and the personal experiences of a soldier to demonstrate the brutalities, ethics, and morale of war. Paul Baumer, this fictional war novel’s main focus, is a young man of only 17 years of age, recruited into the German army unknowing of the future it beholds. However, Baumer was not alone in his endeavor. A man named Kantorek convinced Paul and several of his friends to join in on the fight with his persuasive patriotism. They had no idea, at the time, of their grueling future. In time, all of Paul Baumer’s comrades had fallen, and eventually, he would fall alongside his brothers in arms. Even after his death, the reader can feel the impact of the war that did not end all wars.

    This novel contains many symbols, and it is recognized as one of the greatest war novels ever written. The author, Erich Maria Remarque, expresses his anti-war views and opinions by telling the remarkable story from Baumer’s point of view. “We trudge onward in single file through the trenches and shell-holes and come again to the zone of mist” (Remarque 65).

All Quiet essentially has two models, according to Joseph A. Tigne. He states that there is an empirical model and an intellectualist model. The empirical is to seek to explain the novel in terms of structure and form. The intellectualist is to seek universal definition of war. The structure and form of the novel are simple in that they express the feeling or impact of the war at all times. As for the universal definition of war, it is not ever given. However, it is left to be thought on. (Tigne). Remarque tells the story with the ideas of anti-war. It is obvious that he is trying to convey a negative attitude about the great war in particular. It is not to be said that the book’s contents can not relate to any violent acts or periods throughout history. In fact, people around the world can learn from the words or Remarque to prevent events of a similar kind.

As mentioned earlier, the many symbols are evidently important to the story. An example is the boots of death. First, Behm takes them from a dead body. Then, Kemmerich takes them after Behm dies. Finally, Muller claims the boots from Kemmerich, only to receive the same fate. Another example of symbolism is the women of the novel. The women represent peace and nurturing (cliffsnotes.com). The boys find a sense of hope in women. They think more about their life after war. It gives them release. Even women of family are compared to pleasantness. Such as when Paul compares his inviting hometown to a mother (cliffsnotes.com). One kind nurse in particular, on a train to Cologne, gives Paul personal care and clean sheets. A nun by the name of Sister Libertine spreads cheer among the men for nothing but gratitude from the men.

Although a symbol of women can spark thoughts of after war life, how can one even go back to such simple, easy going habits? Kropp asks the same question, “How can a man take all that stuff seriously when he’s once been out here?” (Remarque 86). It’s a complex topic that these comrades discuss. Muller suggests that you have to an occupation of some kind regardless. Albert says, “How will we ever get used to one after this, here?” (Remarque 86). Kropp seems to take up some optimism and suggests to just make it back first and then worry about it. Just a moment afterwards, he says he doesn't think they will ever get back. Paul, like the reader, is puzzled by these thoughts. The concept of being too far gone or having PTSD is big when it comes to war and its participants. The young boys turned men, in World War I specifically, were changed permanently for the worse. The ones in All Quiet On the Western Front are a perfect example of being too far gone.

“No one in particular wants it, and then all at once there it is” (Remarque 206). War is compared to a fever of sorts. No one wanted the war but half of the world is part of it anyway. Like a fever, war can get out of hand without proper care.