Comparitive Essay of Falling Leaves and All Quiet on the Western Front

To get into the Bronx Highschool of Science, every student took a rigorous entrance exam. After being accepted into this prestigious school, placement tests, and diagnostic tests were taken to see exactly where each and every one of us stood. Although these exams were filled with difficult questions, the one asked in english class had me thinking the most. The question proposed that day was " How would you prioritize: Family, Friends, Health, and Personal Success?" The class argued for the majority of the period, some stating that health is most important, no matter how rich you are, you can't enjoy the luxuries if you're hospitalized. Meanwhile, others suggested that they would rather be in a wheel chair surrounded with friends and family, instead of being alone. The reasoning behind every list was different, as this proved to be a question that churned, twisted and turned the mind, and questioned the motive of everybody in the classroom. However, Abraham Maslow created a five-level table that helps prioritize these needs, called the Hierarchy of Needs. This was used to compare Falling Leaves and All Quiet on the Western Front. All Quiet on the Western Front was a story of a raging war, where a soldier is highlighted in his fight for freedom. In this novel, the main character; Paul is battling for his life and struggling maintain his basic physical needs. At war, he is prepared for anything and everything, often going hungry and spending nights without shelter. He has no stability in sustaining his basic needs, but it is also evident that he strives for approval. Throughout his journey, he had a couple of short returns to his family, and showed how much he wanted to impress them, and make his ill mother proud. He also seeks the approval of his comrades, which is why I don't believe he has reached Self Actualization yet. He is still affected by peers and family, seeks approval, and wants to validate his motivations. This is shown when Paul was hiding in a shell