Psycological Effects of War
Erich Maria Remarque's novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" discusses matters regarding the effects that warfare can have on an individual. The writer wants to emphasize the fact that war is frequently overvalued and that leaders are typically ignorant concerning the experiences of simple soldiers. Warfare makes it possible for one to enter a world that is very different from the one that he or she is accustomed to, influencing the respective person in slowly but surely detaching him or herself from the normal part of society. The novel provides readers with the idea that it is very difficult and practically impossible for someone who experienced warfare firsthand to return home and reintegrate society, given that he or she had experienced traumatizing episodes while fighting.
Virtually every scene of the book puts across feelings related to the horror of war, as the writer refrains from continuing a trend that was typically employed by individuals who wrote...
Remarque thoroughly discusses the concept of warfare and associates it with things like dread, hopelessness, and slaughter. The novel's ending further contributes to the belief that it is impossible for warfare to end in a happy note, considering that almost all of the characters are dead.
Paul Baumer, the protagonist, and his companions are constantly subjected to intense stress as a result of knowing that it is likely for them to be killed at any given moment. This influences them in focusing on their instincts and in practically becoming animals that simply want to make it through the day. Their nerves are severely affected as they acknowledge the fact that their distinction prevents them from knowing anything about the general context of the war or about their chances of survival. While he initially concentrates on trying to live, his experiences turn him into an invulnerable individual who feels that he has nothing left to lose.…
