For those who are not acquainted with the books of German writer Erich Maria Remarque, the title of the novel All Quite on the Western Front does not promise emotional reading. The first thought of it is that this book will tell its reader about ordinary, if not peaceful, but stable life. After the book has been read, there is an absolutely different attitude to it. The language of the novel is very simple and the readers catch themselves thinking that by chance they have an opportunity to read some notes in the diary of a young German soldier who took part in the First World War. This style gives an absolute effect of presence and involvement in the events of the diary.1 This paper is a summary of the excellent book with the attempt of some analysis of its plot.
LIFE DURING THE WAR
Remarque himself was enlisted in the military service in June 1917 and in the beginning of August, he was wounded and sent first to the hospital and then home (Parini 112). There is an opinion that the best war writers are those who spent little time among the horrors of the front life (Blunden 123). People who spend a lot of time there, got used to living every day near the death. Their memories do not keep details of that terrible period of life. Whether it is always true or not, this opinion may be taken for granted in case of Remarque. He had not spent many days in the war, and maybe that’s why he kept in mind many shocking details of the front. All Quite on the Western Front is written from the point of view of the soldier Paul Bäumer. He is the main character of the story along with his friends who are also German soldiers. Everything that happens in the novel is written in the present tense, with simple words about events that take place with these very young people. The book begins with the description of the life of soldiers who are going to move forward up the line. They try to enjoy the last days of life without war activities. The writer shows the details of living in this situation. The soldiers are satisfied with good food and the fact that their bellies are full of beef and haricot beans (Remarque 2). There is also a description of the latrine which stands on the meadow and was built especially for soldiers. The main character and his friends believe that it is comfortable for recruits but not for such experienced soldiers as they are. They made individual boxes which serves as latrines and enjoy the comfort as much as possible (Remarque 3). The impressive details describe the life of the soldiers and their attempts to make it comfortable. From the very first pages Remarque shows the gap, the difference between peace and war. This difference is that people in the war always try to bring something in their life that could be similar to the life before war. Little tokens of coziness, tasty food or good boots, these things remind soldiers of home. People who take part in the war, appreciate, to say the least the things that are unnoticed in peaceful routine. There are a lot of details described by Paul Bäumer that bring a little comfort in their existence. This is what really important, these things force people to live and strengthen their wish to survive. The book is also full of episodes that describe immoral behavior from the view point of individuals, living in comfort and peace. One episode tells about Müller, one of the Paul’s friends. Their comrade, a man named Kemmerich is wounded badly and it is understandable that he will die in a few hours. The only thing that Müller can think of in this moment is Kemmerich’s boots. They are very well made and will suit him fine. As for the boots, after the death of Müller they eventually become the possession of the main character. In the war it is important not to obey such emotions as a grief, it is essential to see things clearly (Remarque 11).
Main Characters. Bäumer gives a description of some of his friends. All of them are people of different emotions or behavior. Katczinsky can fetch anything in the most desperate situations; Krop is a thinker and philosopher. It is always interesting to talk with him about different kinds of things (Remarque 20). The main characteristic feature of another friend Tjaden is his strong, overwhelming hatred towards Himmelstoss. This feeling is so strong that in his dreams Tjaden wants to spend his days after the war making the life of this man worse every minute. The reason for this attitude is that Corporal Himmelstoss was the commanding officer of all of the friends in the camp earlier who mistreated the men. He had the reputation of being the strictest disciplinarian in the camp.2 This man used his power to taunt people. Later, Paul and his friends have an opportunity to make revenge. The day before they are going up the line they attack Himmelstoss and beat him. The corporal does not even understand who did it. Corporal is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. His behavior is typical because he is not so clever man yet is obsessed with the idea of power of any kind. The reader may see Corporal Himmeltstoss in the front, where he was sent for the first time in his life. He is very scared during the attack and tries to hide in order not to take part in it. There are apparent changes in Himmeltstoss behavior after that episode. He tries to do his best to make the solders forgive him for what had been done earlier by doing everything he can to have good relations with them.
The writer gives readers meticulous description of many details of the preparations for the military activities in the front. One of them is the episode when the column passes by an old school and friends see a lot of new coffins. They understand that these things have been made for them (Remarque 48). The detailed description of the military activity in the line is very emotional. This impression gives simple and unemotional words, though.
Gas and heavy fire from the position of the Frenchmen literally drove some recruits crazy.
After this, there is a battle for every trench which is abandoned and then taken back with losses (Remarque 55). This example is very typical for the whole novel. From time to time the author describes the uselessness of all the operations. Young men die for nothing because of a piece of land, the orders of generals and ambitions of politicians (Remarque 63). This is the main idea of the whole novel and Bäumer proves it very clearly. After the battle there are thirty two men alive, before the battle there were one hundred and fifty.
Going Home. Paul is allowed to leave for his hometown for a few days. After coming into his house, he finds out that his mother is ill; she has a cancer and is going to be operated. Paul has strange and mixed emotions, staying in a peaceful place among people he knows. He understands that now he does not belong to this place. People around irritate Paul because of their questions. If they don’t talk to him, they irritate him because of their false tact. He is sad seeing the poverty of his parents; on the other hand, he has always lived in these conditions himself.
In a few days Paul comes back to his company to continue to be the part of the useless war. The writer describes one talk between friends, the core essence of which is that the war is not useful for French and German laborers, workmen, or poor clerks. There must be someone else to whom the war is useful (Remarque 98). This talk is also one more proof of the main idea in the novel, the tragic and useless essence of war. In spite of the all rumors that all troops will go to Russia, all people are sent up the line again. That means that the massacre with numerous victims from both sides will continue. There is a dramatic episode when during the attack Paul sits in some trench and among the sounds of firing weapons, he hears someone is coming toward the trench and finally falls into it. Paul sees some figure and almost instinctively kills him. The man is a French soldier and it takes a couple of days for him to die. Bäumer is shocked; he finds a picture of the wife of the Frenchman and his little baby. This evidence of peaceful life brings him to the thought that there is no difference between this killed man and him. There is no difference even in their present state; it doesn’t really matter whether you were killed or managed to survive. The state of mind of living individuals is no better than of the killed ones.
Paul and his friend Albert Kropp are wounded. They are sent to the hospital and the doctor makes a decision to amputate Albert’s leg. This is not the worst thing that can happen in the war; at least he is alive and soon will be going home. Kropp is in depression, he became more serious and even sullen, which leads him to often think of suicide. He will get used to his state eventually, everyone does and he has no choice (Remarque 128). The last pages of the book are really dramatic. Paul loses his last friends. Müller is dead and Paul starts to wear his well made and comfortable boots. In a few days Kat is killed and Bäumer stays alone. He is the last of all his classmates that were beside him in this war. Germany is losing the war and every man talks about peace. Paul feels very lonely, there is no hope for the future and nothing good is waiting for him. The last sentences of the novel are written as if by some other man. The reader finds out that Paul was killed during very quite October day. The expression of his face was as if he was glad that the end had come (Remarque 140). The army report is simple, all quiet on the Western Front (Remarque 140).
CONCLUSION
Remarque’s novel All Quiet on the Western Front is the most famous of all the writer’s books (Parini 113). The simplicity of language and the whole atmosphere of the war with its details were really unique for that time (Parini 112). The novel is written in the style of notes for the diary; this style was also very unusual and trustworthy (Parini 113). Naturally, the most obvious theme of the book is war and people who are obliged to lead military activities. This is not the only theme, though. The readers may find a lot of evidence of real friendship, hatred and devotion. The main theme of the novel is the understanding that the war is pointless itself. No matter how hard people try to be ready for this horrible event, it is impossible to be ready for it. Desperation, this word may describe the mood of the book and it describes not only the war. Young men feel that even if they survive, they will not know what to do with their lives. They have no profession and they can do nothing, except of being solders and killing enemies. There is also a thought that the word enemy is not appropriate for the people on the other side of the line. All of the soldiers are very much alike. The novel All Quiet on the Western Front is about the generation whose lives were ruined by the war. There are no lucky individuals, even those who managed to come back home. The horrible and useless war is over but there won’t be plenty of time to enjoy the peace with its simple but so important pleasures. In a few decades another, more disastrous war will take place. An extremely gloomy period in the history of Europe and the whole world has begun.
Notes
Please note that quotes from the text are written in their original form.
Works Cited
Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quite on the Western Front. New York: Balantine, 1987. Print.
Blunden, Edmund. Undertones of War. London: Penguin Modern Classic, 2000. Print.
Parini, Jay. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Literature. Oxford: Oxford literature, 2002. Print.
