All Quiet on the Western Front :: essays research papers

In All Quiet on the Western Front, is a novel that shows all of the horrible things and situations that occurred in WWI. It also talks about â€Å"the lost generation† that in fact WWI produced. The main character Paul Baumer and his fellow friends, had spent times listening to their teacher Kantorek's speeches. He talked about how it was the boys' â€Å"duty or job† to go out and b patriotic and help fight in the war. All in All the decisions that they had made at this time, still had them pondering on the outcomes their lives would have.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nationalism at this time was seen as a tool used by those in power to control a nations. By this time, Paul and his friends are â€Å"seduced† into the army by the nationalists ideas. They have also realized that their enemy really isn't the others, its the men who had power in their OWN nation. This shows how Paul and the others have indeed themselves involved in the spread of their nationalism which regards to thinking of right and wrong. As the boys continue through the rough training given by Corporal Himmelstoss, they realize what they have gotten themselves into. In training, Himmelstoss's ideas and drills drag on to make the boys despise him. Even though Corporal Himmelstoss made the boys do horrible things as to stand out in the cold risking frostbite, and gruesome practices and training, they boys have realized what Corporal Himmelstoss has only done the things to make them stronger and without the training, there would be no way they would have ma de it through the brutal war. But, by the end of the novel, Himmelstoss tries to make amends to the boys, and yet they have realized what Himmelstoss has done for them is what still kept them alive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While at the front, Paul's relationships with his others vary. It was always an on going battle between him and Himmelstoss because of their differences of opinions. Albert Kropp was one of Paul's closest friends. They were both injured at a time where they were placed in a hospital where they both retrieved treatment. On the bad side, Kropp's leg had been amputated. They had shared a togetherness. Kat was another one of Paul's closest friends. They were always there for one and other and seemed to have distinctions about what was going on. During a battle Kat gets hurt and Paul tries to help him.