Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Please give examples of romanticism in All Quiet on the Western Front.In quotes or scenes from the book.

Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front
is a realistic account of one German soldier's experiences in World War I.
Most of the novel is painfully realistic, as it addresses the horrors of war. Men and
boys are terribly wounded and die horrific deaths. Some soldiers go crazy and
practically commit suicide in their crazed state. The use of gas and the realities of
the trenches are real and believable. Even the disillusionment of the narrator, Paul, is
painfully real. That being said, there is also an element of romanticism in this novel.
There are consistent examples of people who have idealized (romanticized) views of this
war. For example, when Paul goes home on leave, he is told by people there that they are
happy to suffer their deprivations since they know the soldiers are benefiting from
their sacrifice. They believe what they have been told and never even ask Paul if the
soldiers are well provisioned. The truth, of course, is that the soldiers are no better
off in terms of food than the civilians. The people also believe the war is being
gloriously fought and that they are winning; in reality, the soldiers know that is
either propaganda or a dream (probably both) and the war is most certainly lost. Another
example is the view of the schoolmasters who encouraged all these boys enlist for a
noble war but never acknowledge the certain ravages and consequences to follow. Fighting
for one's country is always a glorious and noble concept; however, the realities are
neither glorious nor noble. These romanticized views of war are jarring to Paul, and
he reflects upon them all through this novel.

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