All Quiet on the Western Front
Developing Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front Throughout the course of a novel sophisticated authors are able tosend a character on an influential journey that changes his of her outlook orattitude towards life. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, theauthor, Erich Maria Remarque demonstrates his literary capability by makingobvious developments in Paul, the protagonist. Paul is mutated mentally,physically and morally resultant of the horrific events which he endures Wasting no time, Remarque introduces Paul to the truly horrificelements of war. Paul has just arrived on the front lines the stage is set. Ahorrifying strike conducted by the resilient English troops. His young naiveeyes were immediately changed. Instantaneously he thinks back and realizesthe lies, about war, that were taught to him in school. His initial experienceshatters any misconceptions he had formerly. Paul says that "the firstbombardment showed us our mistake and under it the world as they hadtaught it to break us to pieces"(45). It is at this point that Paul realizesthat the war that he expected to win effortlessly turned out to be a neverending hell. This momentous event sparked a change
Paul is a soldier placed in an inhabited city. After many bombardments made by the British soldiers Paul comesto the realization that to survive they must become "wild beasts"(113) whenthey arrive on the front lines. Although he lived an abbreviated life he experienced a great dealmore than normal men do in the course of a lifetime. It is evident, when Paul comes home, that a major change hasoccurred in his mind set and has left him feeling like he is destined to be inthe war and not at home. in Paul's attitude aboutthe war and prepared him mentally for the altering experiences that lieahead. Thelonger he stays in the battle, the more he forgets about his past memoriesand his family. Paul has no choice but to stab the soldier and abandon all hisprevious values. one purpose only,preservation of existence"(127). Why do they never tell usthat you are poor devils like us?. Paul is only twenty years old yet knows"nothing but despair, death, fear and fatuous superficiality cast over anabyss of sorrow"(263). Paul resorts back to his oldvalues to grieve for the soldier.
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