Topic > All Quiet on the Western Front: Disillusionment in War

Many people believe that facing death is the most catastrophic and horrible thing about war. Is this the truth? How about the suffering of losing an idealistic future after going through everything that is killing your vision of the world at war? In Erich Maria Remarque's famous novel All Quiet on the Western Front explores the themes of the horror of war and disillusionment, which are the dark part of war. At the beginning of the novel, Paul and his friends are forced to join the war by their teacher. In the middle of the story, Paul gradually loses his comrades during the bombing at the front. At the end of the story, Paul finally died in silence. However, the most interesting theme that attracts people's attention the most, that miserable wars shape the ambition of young generations towards returning home and make them lost with loneliness, disillusionment and violence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, catastrophic war causes young soldiers to isolate themselves from normal life. After Paul gets off the train at the station in his hometown, a girl approaches him and says: "I turn around, she smiles at me too stupidly, so obsessed with her own importance: 'Look, I'm giving coffee to a soldier !” — He calls me “comrade,” but I don't want any." The quote reflects the fact that Paul spends a lot of time at the front and experiences some horrible senses, so he has difficulty interacting with civilians. Because the girl deliberately pleases Paul, he receives it with a negative attitude because he thinks she makes him an ostentatious capital, which is because Paul believes she is selfish. Furthermore, the war makes Paul wary and he needs more time to get used to normal life. Also, when Paul at the bar people are curious about the war, “Because they all come back to the same thing, how bad it is and how much it is good; one thinks it is like this, another like this." From the quote, the audience can know that Paul does not feel any warmth from the people around him because they only care about how the war is going. However, Paul only has the chance to enjoy peace on leave, so he doesn't want to bring up the sad memory of war. Furthermore, the indifference of others makes Paolo feel isolated and even desperate. On the other hand, not only does war make soldiers feel isolated, but also people who just want to satisfy their curiosity. Furthermore, the generation also walks away with disappointment about their lives, after the horrible sensations of the war. When Paul is in hospital he recalls his life: “I'm young, I'm twenty; yet I know nothing about life other than desperation, death, fear and fatuous superficiality thrown into an abyss of pain.” From this quote, readers can understand that the war hurt Paul not only physically, but also mentally. The feeling of desperation is Kantorek's, who pushes Paul to join the army by telling him that he is a young man of iron. However, the increasing number of people dying in front of him does not make Paul feel that they are solid, but fragile. Furthermore, as a young twenty-year-old, he should have a better life than exploring the wonderful and beautiful sides of the world. Paul should also enjoy the most amazing life there is in his entire life. But the war takes everything away from him and makes him feel hopeless for the rest of his future. Furthermore, in Paul's mind, he feels alone and helpless: “I am very calm. Let the months and years come, they cannot bring me anything else. I am so alone and so hopeless that I can face them without fear. The life that gave birth to me in these years is still in my hands and in my eyes. if I have it.