War habitually desensitizes and numbs the fighting soldiers due to the harsh, crippling events they have witnessed. War creates a feeling of endless hopelessness felt by the comrades during the war. In “All Quiet on the Western Front”, Erich Maria Remarque exposes the change of characterization of Paul Baumer from an innocent boy transformed by the monstrosities of war into a desensitized soldier by repeating the pattern of soldiers going to the front, being at the front, and then being away from the front to expose the personal destruction caused by it. On the way to the front, the comrades are experiencing rising anxiety and intimidating tension from the realization of the unavoidability death on the frontline. For example Baumer is thinking, “Every time it is the same. We start out for the front plain soldiers, either cheerful or gloomy: then come the first gun-emplacements and every word of our speech has a new ring” (Remarque 54). This thought exposes how on the way to the front the comrades are having mixed emotions of either excitement or depression, exposing how inexperienced and innocent Paul Baumer really is. Additionally, Remarque writes, “’That's a good preparation for the offensive,’ says Müller astonished. ‘They're for us,’ growls Detering. ‘Don't talk rot,’ says Kat to him angrily. ‘You be thankful if you get so much as a coffin,’ grins Tjaden” (Remarque 99). This dialogue reveals their somber attitude towards their …show more content…
This pattern is evident in the real life wars which are the reason most soldiers are often greatly affected when they come back to their real home after being in the war for so long. War habitually changes boys to soldiers through the desensitizing and inhumane occurrences they have