All Quiet on the Western Front Final Draft
Every soldier needs a comrade to fight alongside in war. Soldiers form a strong bond of comradeship when they experience the violent horrors of war together. Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front demonstrates that forming a strong bond of comradeship helps to make witnessing the violent extremities of war more bearable for soldiers through the use of diction and writing style.
Throughout All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul is exposed to many catastrophic events but, he has his fellow comrades help him get through it. Paul and Kropp both get wounded while evacuating a village that suddenly was attacked. They bribe a sergeant-major with cigars to get on the hospital train. On the train, Paul pretends to be sick in order to stay with Albert. At one point, the nurse gives Paul a thermometer. Paul decides to, “ stick the thermometer under my arm at a slant, and flip it steadily with my forefinger. Then I give it a shake. I send it up to 100.2°. But that is not enough. A match held cautiously near to it brings it up to 101.6° ”(Remarque 250). Paul uses to sly measures to fake a fever in order to stay with Albert. The deception that Paul used to get the nurse to believe he was sick shows the strong camaraderie between Paul and Kropp. They are both wounded and will do whatever they can to stay together. They need each other in order to cope with their injuries.
One of the most prominent moments of camaraderie shown alongside with the destructive nature of war is when Kat and Paul roast two pigs together. While Kat takes his turn roasting the pigs, Paul thinks, “We don't talk much, but I believe we have a more complete communion with one another than even lovers have. We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death ”(Remarque 94). The author makes Kat and Paul’s growing bond clear by using words like communion, lovers, and circle of death which indicates that being with Kat brings Paul tranquility and assurance. The words also indicates that being with Kat takes Paul’s mind off of the horrors of war. The writing style is poetic which demonstrates the affection Paul has for Kropp.
The fair-headed recruit is a representation of the many inexperienced soldiers in the war. The young recruit tries to hide in Paul’s arms in fear. Paul describes the young recruit, “ like a child creeps under my arm, his head close to my breast ” (Remarque 61). The words terror and explosions describes the deadly environment of war and how the new recruits have not had any military exposure. Paul takes on a fatherly role and comforts the young, inexperienced soldier. The young soldier is injured as a result of his limited war experience. The fair-headed recruit used Paul as way of comfort and protection to cope with the destruction.
Another prominent event that shows comradeship in the midst of destruction happens as Second Company is sent to guard an abandoned village. While they are cooking up a feast, their shelter is bombarded. Paul describes,“The observation balloons have spotted the smoke from our chimney, and the shells start to drop on us… hear a shell coming I drop down on one knee with the pan and the pancakes, duck behind the wall of the window ” (Remarque 234-235). The word smoke and shells are used to show the dangers of war. The lack of emotion shows how the soldiers are so used to the war that they literally risking their lives preparing their meal. The soldiers are depending on each other for necessities and at the same time, they are able to withstand unpredictable, dangerous conditions.
All Quiet on the Western Front, portrays how comradeship is essential when experiencing horrendous events through Paul’s war experience. Soldiers need each other for survival. Soldiers should always have a comrade to get through the extreme conditions of war because it is difficult getting through the physical and mental harms of war alone.
Throughout the novel, Paul’s emotionless descriptions show that forming bonds between comrades makes witnessing the violence of war more bearable for soldiers. Soldiers must rely on each other for basic needs and fellowship because one can not get through these perilous events alone. Paul shows how camaraderie is reflected in the destructiveness of war through his many experiences. There are many works of art made to represent different interpretations of the war. The theme of Camaraderie and Destructive Nature of War is also depicted through poems, art, and other media. The poem, “Futility” by Wilfred Owen, “Gassed” by John Singer Sargaent, and “Somewhere at the Front, Soldiers around a Camp Fire at Night, Western Front” by Fred Roe demonstrates that when individuals form strong friendships in the midst of hardships, it makes it easier for them to get through it.
Many soldiers have written war poems that describe what they went through. One poem is “Futility” by Wilfred Owen and it depicts a soldier trying to resuscitate his fallen comrade. The title of this poem indicates the ineffectiveness of this attempt. Owen uses personification by referring to the sun as “kind”. He reminisces about how the sun used to wake up his comrade every morning. The soldier attempting to bring his comrade back to consciousness can be seen as symbolism. The symbolism interprets that the effort to bring back hope in the face of the horror of war and death is pointless. The soldier desperate attempt to revive his fellow soldier shows how much soldiers need each other to survive the atrocious war.
A lot of paintings were created to represent war is like. An example is “Gassed” by John Singer Sargeant. This piece of art shows a line of wounded soldiers that are holding on to each other and are being led by a medical helper. All of the soldiers are temporarily blinded as a result of a mustard gas attack. The wounded soldiers are depending on each other as their way of seeing and for guidance. On either side of the walkway, there are more injured bodies on the ground waiting for medical attention. In the background, there are more temporarily blinded soldiers being led by a man in a white gown. This historical painting demonstrates how soldiers need to depend on each other to get through the brutal damages caused by war.
Another war painting, “Somewhere at the Front, Soldiers Around a Camp Fire at Night, Western Front” by Fred Roe. This art piece shows soldiers sitting around a campfire and spending time with each other at night. In the painting there are pans and kettles which could mean how soldiers rely on each other for food and survival. The painting demonstrates how soldiers need their fellow comrades to distract them from the brutality of war. Occasionally, soldiers need a break from the violent war to spend quality time with their comrades in order to help them divert their attention away from the ruthless ways of war.
The bonds formed among soldiers are the strongest in light of the fact that in many cases they are actually ones of life and death. Individuals need friends or families in order to get through horrid events that take place in their lives. This is shown through All Quiet on the Western Front as well as the three other works of art. More importantly, the soldiers recognized the value of friendship and great significance and benefits it brings to them as they rely on each other to survive the barbaric experience of war.