Anti-War

Erich Maria Remarque, who had fought in the trenches of World War I, had experienced the horrors and grisly realities of war. A lot of what is written in All Quiet on the Western Front is indeed autobiographical and shares Remarque’s adamant attitude against war. This is done in three ways.

First, it reveals that those fighting in the trenches are ordinary people –from high school graduates to simple tradesmen to peasant farmers. Each of them, to some degree, has a life they have left behind to go and fight –and possibly die. The failure of politicians and generals leads to the destruction of families and human lives.

Second, the novel graphically depicts warfare. Paul recounts the heads of men beside him being blown off, men running on the stumps of their legs for cover once their feet have been blown off, men are ripped apart and...