Are Soldiers The Only People example essay topic

Chloe Smith Eng. Per 4 Essay Are Soldiers only Suffering? An examination of "All is Quiet on the Western front" Are soldiers the only people who suffer during war? During the terrifying and tragic time of war, not only are soldiers affected, but the people left behind at home suffer as well. In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, terrifying situations become reality to the many men, women, and children who are affected by war. One example of this is when Paul, the main character and narrator of story, along with his comrades, run into three French women across a stream who seem to be incredibly famished.

Another example when we can see that not only soldiers suffer from the war is when Paul is talking to his mother while she is lying in her bed. Finally, we can see this reality while Paul is on leave. During this time, he goes to visit the mother of one of his deceased comrades to inform her of what happened to her son. Through these examples, Remarque helps his readers to understand his ambition to show that while the soldiers experience and live in these horrific realities, we must remember that war affects and changes all of our lives, sometimes without even noticing it. Bored, and with not much to do, Paul and his fellow soldiers come across three young French girls who they quickly begin to talk to.

After trying their best to talk to them with their little knowledge of French language, Tjaden, one of Paul's fellow soldiers, comes up with a clever idea to persuade these young girls. "Tjaden is more crafty. He runs into the house, gets a loaf of army bread and holds it up. That produces a great effect. They nod and beckon us to come over". (pg. 144 Narrator).

These poor, young French girls are hungry and have little to no other sources of food. With the soldiers offer, they invite the young men over. It seems they feel this is there only way of being able to eat. The war has had such an effect on them that they must sell their bodies so they can stay alive during this crazy time of war. Remarque creates this situation to show that along with the soldiers, people were suffering and had to go to extremes to be able to stay alive. "You ought not to send your things to me, Mother.

We have plenty to eat out there. You can make much better use of them here". (pg. 184 Paul). Paul sits by his mother's side on his last night of his leave. His mother is sick in bed and Paul is not sure how much time she actually has left.

"How dispute she lies there in bed, she that loves me more than all the world". As Paul sits next to her he remembers all of the things that she has done for him, and knows just how much she does not want to say good-bye. "How can it be that I must part from you. Who else is there that has any claim on me but you? Here I sit and there you are lying; we have so much to say, and we shall never say it". (pg. 184/Paul) Paul and his mother both realize that this could and most likely will be the last time they are able to talk to each other. Reality has sunk into them and they must say there last good-byes, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

During Paul's leave, one of his many adventures includes bringing the news of a death to the mother of Paul's good friend Kemmerich. The news of her sons death shocks and upsets Kemmerich mother more than Paul expected". 'Why are you living then, when he is dead?'. .. 'Did you see him? Did you see him then?

How did he die?' " (pg. 180 Paul / Kemmerich's mother). It is hard to imagine the pain and agony which this news must have brought poor Kemmerich's mother. To have to cope and except the fact that you will never be able to see your son again. To have no last words with someone you care and love so much. We can see here that Remarque is attempting to prove to us that not only the soldier goes to war, but the entire country goes. And when a man falls on the battlefield, not only does he die, but a part of the country dies.

All Quiet on the Western Front was written by Remarque in the years shortly proceeding the end of World War I. At this time, many people were mourning and reflecting on the personal losses the war brought into their lives. Without a choice, without a say in the matter, people lost their children, husbands, and friends for something which they relatively did not know much about. Today, we can see the tragic history of this repeating itself. Families and friends of soldiers not knowing if they will ever hear the voices of their loved ones again. From the experiences which Remarque shares with us in his book, we see that he wants to show his readers that the time they have together with people should be cherished and not taken advantage of. He attempts at conveying the reality that war can and will destroy people without the weapons and bombs, by slowly eating away at them internally.

I personally agree with the theme in this book that war affects not only soldiers, but the people left behind because the validity of this is seen not only in the history of the many wars which have taken place in the past, but in our society today. Taking this into consideration, we must realize that the actions which are being taken today will affect us for the rest of our lives.