Character Analysis: All Quiet On The Western Front

War is a transformative event as it has transformed the nation's of the planet politically and economically, as well as transforming the nation's art and literature. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul the main character returns back to his hometown realising it is different then he could remember as he was at the front and is unable to understand how to behave in the city and how everyone else is acting differently. As Paul was walking in the street he was noticing how everyone was different as he stated “When I see them here, in their rooms, in their offices, about their occupations, I feel an irresistible attraction in it, I would like to be here too and forget the war, but also it repels me, it is so narrow, how can that fill a man's life, he ought to smash it to bits; how can they do it, while out at the front the splinters are whining over the shell-holes and the star-shells go up, the wounded are carried back on waterproof sheets and comrades crouch in the trenches.--They are different men here, men I cannot properly understand, whom I envy and despise”(Document A).
Which causes them to write different literature than before as they all write of gloomy and horrific events instead of stories with good endings. As well the soldiers who survived the war started painting in the gloomy days in war and how it still horrifies them. This was all different from men in the war and men who did not serve in the military as Paul stated “Whom I envy and Despise”. Paul has stated how he is disconnected and wishes to be like all of them and did not go into war due to them being able to live normal lives as he is not able to due to have served in the