Mani Ramezani
Mr. Cohen and Miss. DiPpaolo
ENG3U
Monday, May 15, 2023
How is Paul Bäumer represented within this moment of 'All Quiet on the Western Front’? How has Remarque represented Paul Bäumer in this way?
In this moment of All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Bäumer is represented as a young soldier struggling with the harsh reality and moral implications of war, and this representation emphasizes the dehumanizing effects of war on soldiers. Remarque depicts Paul Bäumer's emotions through vivid descriptions, a first-person omniscient narrator, and some language features.
One of the most important methods that Remarque used is vivid descriptions and imagery. Through detailed descriptions of the soldier's physical appearance and the scary sounds of his suffering, Remarque conveys the horror and reality of war. For example, when Paul Bäumer approaches him for the first time, Remarque writes:
The body is still perfectly still, without a sound, the gurgle has ceased, but the eyes cry out, yell, all the life is gathered together in them for one tremendous effort to flee, gathered together there in a dreadful terror of death, of me. (Remarque, 104)
This powerful imagery and description, allow readers to understand the intensity of the situation and the emotional turmoil Paul experiences. The author has used the first person narrator very well to express Paul's feelings and his inner struggle with the moral consequences of his actions. “This is the first time I have killed with my hands, whom I can see close at hand, whose death is my doing” (Remarque, 105). By giving readers access to Paul's innermost thoughts, Remarque humanizes him and deepens our understanding of the psychological impact of war on soldiers. The author's choice of language features further underscores Paul's internal struggle and his desire to humanize his enemy. The use of repetition, such as the repetition of the word "camerade" (Remarque, 105) and the phrase "forgive me, comrade" (Remarque, 106), highlights Paul's genuine remorse and his longing for reconciliation.
In general, by using these methods, the author was able to make the audience understand the general concept of the book, which is anti-war.
I will write to your wife, I will write to her, she must hear it from me, I will tell her everything I have told you, she shall not suffer, I will help her, and your parents too, and your child. (Remarque, 106)
This one sentence is enough for the readers to understand the general concept of the book, and it is enough for the readers to understand that Paul is a compassionate person who regrets what he did and is now looking for a way to calm himself down.
Work Cited
Remarque, Erich Maria, 1898-1970. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York :Fawcett Crest, 1975.
That was interesting