Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Erich Maria Remarque authored this book, which was released on January 29, 1929. It describes the First World War experiences of German soldiers and illustrates the extreme physical and emotional strain that soldiers went through. It also illustrates how detached from post-war society these individuals were. Due to this, they encountered difficulties when reuniting with their families after the conflict. I chose this book because it is the best war book that illustrates how difficult life was for troops during a war. Because it portrays how battles always ended in terrible consequences, the novel's events meticulously illustrate an antiwar theme. Also, the reader appreciates how Remarque carefully organizes his work to make the book be a masterpiece of literature as well as vividly revealing the realities of war. The unspeakable horror that the soldiers experienced in the trenches during battles such as First World War had a drastic impact on their lives.
The Inhumane Nature of Warfare
This book enables the reader to understand that warfare experienced on the Western front pictured to be inhumane. Paul Baumer is one of the soldiers and tells the story from his point of view. Here, he makes an exploration into the grim reality that they faced while in the First World War as well as showcasing the detrimental impact the war had on the soldiers mental and physical conditions. Notably, the encounters in the book are brought close and denotes that war is overwhelming and frustrating to peoples. Arguably, this will remain to be the most celebrated novel of all time indicating the mental, physical and the social impact of war. Equally, the reader gets to understand how the book is a valuable historical source that is not only educative but also informative. Perhaps, the most striking factor in this novel is the depiction of the physical and the mental repercussions that war had on the soldiers at the front. This is a heartbreaking book showing the permanent damages that are done to people in war. For example, the novel portrays that the soldiers developed mental traumas and physical factors that permanently changed them.
Fear of Death and Alienation
Evidently, the technological advancement during this time led to the invention of more effective war weapons such as guns, and the soldiers developed a fear of death. Prominently, the characters who survived the fight appreciated life when they recalled of the horrible death encounters. Baumer says that "Never has life in its niggardliness seemed to us so desirable as now...O Life, life, life!" (Remarque 285). This makes the reader develop compassion and bitterness as the book sharply gives insights into the unimaginable realities. The hard conditions, mutilation, and dying aspects described triggers realism in the mind of the reader. This is manifested when Baumer is told to go home for leave. He says that "What is left? A pause that only makes everything after it so much worse...I ought never to have come on leave" (Baumer 179). This evidence the inability of a typical soldier to fit into civilian life after the war. Still, the horrific events made some people long to go home as manifested by Detering.
The Reality of War
Besides, a highlighting factor evident in the book denotes how the soldiers who fought in war felt alienated. Paul Baumer tells his friends that "a declaration of war should be a kind of popular festival with entrance tickets and a bull fight. Then the ministers and generals of the two countries ... can have it out among themselves" (Remarque 41). This illustrates a significant reality at the front where the soldiers had to massively kill and risk their lives due to conflicts that were caused by few individuals. More devastating is that many of these soldiers were poorly prepared and comprised of recruits who lacked adequate experience. In view of this, many lives were lost as the soldiers did not have tactical strategies to fight in the war.
The Effects of War
I agree that the book is an adventure which tries to tell the story of a generation of men that were destroyed by war even if they survived the horrors as stated by the book's epigraph. The novel opens an exploration into the effects of war which depicted to be a transformation force to the soldiers. Certainly, the book takes a critical position against war as well as the nationalist which only subjected people to dreadful encounters. Perhaps, the events in the book clearly explain the epigraph. Friction is evidenced between realism and antiwar fervor creating an aesthetic tension, and Remarque tries to portray this through employing realistic characters. I agree that the book displays that the First World War was a generation haunted by war which culminated to profound ramifications.
Conclusion
Indeed, the Remarque's book paints a brilliant picture of the First World War veracities including the fear of death and alienation on account of carnages that they were forced to witness. Moreover, the profound repercussions make one understand that war has damaging outcomes and nations should not welcome this a solution to international problems. The life of those who survived the horrifying experiences was completely altered. Undisputedly, Remarque depicts to be an enigmatic writer who manages to draw the attention of the reader by making his book richly intriguing. Arguably, this will remain to be an educative book on war showcasing how soldiers risked lives to protect their nations.
Work Cited
Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet On The Western Front. Prince Frederick, Md., Recorded Books, 1929.
