In the novel, 'All Quiet on the Western Front,' by Erich Maria Remarque, the author uses the character, Paul Baumer, to convey critiques of the military structure, and decisions. 'All Quiet on the Western Front,' is a novel about a young soldier named Paul who was enlisted at a young age to fight for his country, and later on, turned into a hardened veteran. Often, novelists romanticize what war was like, and how the war affected the soldiers psychologically, but in 'All Quiet on the Western Front,' Remarque implicates his knowledge of being a German soldier fighting on the front.
During World War 1, Paul Baumer, and his fellow soldiers enlist into the War voluntarily, after hearing patriotic and honoring speeches from his teacher Kantorek. Paul and his fellow soldiers later realize that it was a mistake believing the war was honorable, and live in constant terror. The young volunteer discerns that to feel less guilt and resentment he has to preserve his humanity. The basic necessities of a person are what count the most. The following states, 'I stay to finish my last four pancakes; twice I have to drop to the floor;-- after all, it means four pancakes more, and they are my favorite dish' (Paul Baumer 236.) Maintaining self-worth during World War 1 is very important for Paul because distinguishing between believing that he is a good person or a bad person depends on his mentality. Though it is tough for Paul Baumer to surmount the things he has seen, he becomes a 'human animal,' which relies on human instinct, and survival. Paul struggles with detaching completely via war, and his family. The following states, 'Parting from my friend Albert Kropp was very hard. But a man gets used to that sort of thing in the army' (Paul Baumer 269.) The author uses this quote to make the reader understand how the war affected Paul Baumer.
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Throughout World War 1, Paul Baumer's mentality changes. When Muller; one of Paul's friends asks the others what they would do if it was peacetime again, Paul believes otherwise. Albert Kropp states, 'The war has ruined us for everything' (Albert Kropp 87.) Paul Baumer continues to say, 'We are cut off from activity, from striving, from progress. We believe in such things no longer, we believe in the war' (Paul Baumer 88.) Before Paul enlisted in the war, he had his plans formulated, but since then Paul has mentally changed. The war has affected him greatly to the point of him believing that life has nothing to offer him after the war. Another time Paul Baumer changes his mind is when Paul and Mueller come from visiting Kimmerich in the hospital. Since Kemmerich's leg was amputated, Mueller recognizes that he could put good use to the boots. Paul states, 'Wha have lost all sense of other considerations because they are artificial. Only the facts are real and important for us' (Paul Baumer 21.) Paul and his fellow soldiers have to change the way they think if they are going to survive the war. They cannot afford to put their emotions in the way. By being in the war, it has brainwashed Paul to think that 'artificial,' things such as thoughts, ideas, and emotions don't matter, and to think that only facts are going to keep him alive.
The effect on him caused him to alter his humanity during the war, which allowed him to be able to become the human animal he essentially needed to be to survive during the battle.
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