Camaraderie in All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich...

Between the years of 1914 to 1918, the whole of Europe was locked in arms, not only for pride but mostly for survival. The years of war brought devastation upon all societies. Men were massacred in droves, food stuff dwindled, and at times an end seemed non-existent. The foundation of the first Great War, one can muse, began as a nationalistic race between rival nations. By the onset of 1914, once the Archduke Frendinad had been assassinated in Saravejo, the march for war became not just a nationalistic opinion, but now a frenzy to fight. In battle, unlike previous wars, new weaponry caused drastic alterations in strategy. No longer will armies stand to face their rivals on the plains. Now the war will be fought in trenches, hidden†¦show more content†¦At one point during the story, Paul Baumer returns home for a short leave from the front line. While at home he is faced with old faces, some who want only to hear of the war. Those who want to hear the war and stories constan tly put a strain on Paul’s psyche. He describes in several occasions that when the conversation of war came up he would only others funny stories but nothing of his hardship. Some, like his mother, asked about the conditions of the front line. Paul is unable to describe world of the front line because he is afraid once the conversation starts he will be unable to control his feelings. â€Å"I am afraid they [words] might then become gigantic and I be no longer able to master them† (Remarque, 165). This is paramount to the life a soldier, he must be able to control his emotions in order to survive. In other circumstances, the older men wish to know of the progress of the war. In one part of the story, a few elderly gentlemen were speaking of strategy and how to win the war with Paul. The older men do not appear to be very sympathetic to Paul’s struggles and ask him sensitive questions. Paul, though angry, does not react to their prying. At one point one of the me n talks of destroying the â€Å"froggies† and â€Å"johnnies†, in reference to the French and English soldiers, and remarks that Paul and the army should â€Å"shove ahead a bit out there with yourShow MoreRelatedLost Generation Theme745 Words   |  3 PagesThe Lost Generation and Camaraderie Created by War Rats scuttling around. Lice crawling everywhere. Diseases spreading like wildfire. Imagine living in conditions like this for weeks on end. Add bullets constantly whizzing past, bombs being dropped, poison gas permeating the air, and this is the reality for soldiers in the trenches, and the men in All Quiet on the Western Front. Paul, the narrator and a German soldier, along with fellow classmates, join the army after being persuaded by theirRead MoreAll Quiet On The Western Front Theme Analysis741 Words   |  3 Pagesmen in All Quiet on the Western Front. Paul, the narrator and a German soldier, along with fellow classmates, join the army after being persuaded by their teacher. Based on their teachers description of war, they enter believing war will be a glorious experience. Their beliefs quickly shatter when they witness the first death. Throughout the novel Paul loses many of his friends and sees firsthand how war affects soldiers. Paul soon realizes how war dramatically changes men. In All Quiet on the