All Quiet on the Western Front Book Review
Introduction In All Quiet on the Western Front, Remarque paints a clear and gruesome picture of the horrors and atrocities of war and the effects on those who fight the war. He tells the story of Paul Baumer and his comrades who, after being persuaded by their teacher Kantorek, patriotically enlist in the German army. The glory of being a soldier quickly fades and the true horror of war is soon realized. As the war continues, Baumer begins to forget his identity outside of the war; the war has both destroyed him and defined him. A theme strewn throughout the novel is that that Baumer and his comrades were fighting a fight in which they did not believe. This paper will attempt to portray the relevance of the events and themes in All Quiet on the Western Front with the just war theory, the current situation in Iraq, and the Israeli-Arab conflicts.
Plot Overview The first chapter of the novel introduces us to Paul Baumer, a nineteen year old recruit in the German army. The recruits know little of the horrors of war yet; they have a bountiful supply of tobacco, double portions of food, mail from home, and time to sleep (Remarque, 1928, pp. 1-18). In Chapter two, we begin to see the disconnect from Paul 's life before the war and his life during the war. He speaks of how he would often write poetry before the war but that part of his life had "become so unreal to me I cannot comprehend it any more" (Remarque, 1928, p. 19). Later in the chapter, we learn that Kemmerich, Paul 's fellow recruit and friend, is near death in the hospital to do an infected wound on his leg (Remarque, 1928, p. 28). In this scene, the theme of the dehumanization of the soldier is perpetuated through the hospital staff 's actions and attitude towards Kemmerich (Remarque, 1928, p. 32). The most important event in chapter three, I believe, is the scene in which the soldiers enact their revenge on Himelstoss (Remarque, 1928, pp. 48-49). It shows the soldier 's growing disrespect
Plot Overview The first chapter of the novel introduces us to Paul Baumer, a nineteen year old recruit in the German army. The recruits know little of the horrors of war yet; they have a bountiful supply of tobacco, double portions of food, mail from home, and time to sleep (Remarque, 1928, pp. 1-18). In Chapter two, we begin to see the disconnect from Paul 's life before the war and his life during the war. He speaks of how he would often write poetry before the war but that part of his life had "become so unreal to me I cannot comprehend it any more" (Remarque, 1928, p. 19). Later in the chapter, we learn that Kemmerich, Paul 's fellow recruit and friend, is near death in the hospital to do an infected wound on his leg (Remarque, 1928, p. 28). In this scene, the theme of the dehumanization of the soldier is perpetuated through the hospital staff 's actions and attitude towards Kemmerich (Remarque, 1928, p. 32). The most important event in chapter three, I believe, is the scene in which the soldiers enact their revenge on Himelstoss (Remarque, 1928, pp. 48-49). It shows the soldier 's growing disrespect
References: 'Just War ' Reconsidered. (2006, September 1). The Chronicle of Higher Education, 53, B.4. Retrieved October 12, 2006, from ProQuest database. Remarque, E. M. (1928). All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: The Random House Publishing Group.