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All Quiet On The Western Front Futility Of War

2516 Words11 Pages

Paradize Martell
05/10/2023
English 1
Mr.Schipper
All Quiet on the Western Front Assessment Paul's multifaceted perspective of the war serves to develop themes of the dehumanization of soldiers and the power dynamics embedded in war, illustrating the devastating consequences of warfare on the individual soldier and their views of society. The novel “All Quiet On the Western Front'' by Enrich Maria Remarque and the documentary film “They Shall Not Grow Old; showcase the futility of war and the challenges this affects due to boundaries the human psyche must endure to survive. Moreover, the psychological toll of war acts as a conduit for its destructive force, leading to the deindividuation …show more content…

Paul had believed his fight was for a just cause, one worth dying for. Despite this. With the continuation of the war and its drag of terror, Paul begins to question the validity of war and the stances his commanders take on the war, the purpose for fighting the enemy is shattered. In Remarque's novel All Quiet On The Western Front, he details, “A Word of command has made these silent figures our enemies; a word of command might transform them into our friends.” This quote exemplifies how even though they are on opposite sides of the war they are not inherently enemies but rather forced into the position by their commanding officers. It is not personal animosity or lasting hatred that employs the soldiers to kill the common enemy soldier, instead, it is the doing of their superiors who forced these men into the roles of judge, jury, and executioner. Highlighting the arbitrary nature of war and the control authority and leadership take in shaping the course of the conflict. On page 205, it claims, “Now just why would a French blacksmith or a French shoemaker want to attack us? No, it is merely the rulers.” This statement exercises the power dynamics held over soldiers throughout the war. Soldiers are pawns in the political games of their leaders. The power structure is implicated through fear, punishment, and violence, thus, creating a culture of blind obedience and compliance, giving soldiers like Paul or Albert Kropp (one of Paul's comrades) no agency over the outcomes of their lives. Did these young men stand a chance with their system or was the system too powerful? Paul and his comrades like Tjaden, Kat, and Albert were all controlled and manipulated by the higher powers, the emotional turmoil of the trauma, fear, isolation, and psychological pressure reframed the soldiers to the whims of their commanders, impacting their ability to critically or independently

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