In the book All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque illustrates the picture of World War I to the reader. This book is the story of Paul Baumer, who with his classmates recruits in the German Army of World War I. This anti-war novel is an excellent book because through the experiences of Paul Baumer, I am able to actually feel like I’m in the war. It is a very useful piece of literature, which increases the readers’ knowledge on how the war affected the people at the time setting. By reading this book, one is drawn into the actual events of the war, and can feel the abyss of death. I believe this piece is very well written. It is entirely simple, lacking any bias remarks, or false patriotism. In this book, Remarque just gives the reader the impression of the war. His great details and way of wording things is incredible. In this book, Remarque is able to portray the nightmare on European battlefields. Paul Baumer, along with other classmates is recruited into the German Army for WWI. The story is told through this character. These young men are trained for the war. Their many experiences are described throughout the book. Many of Paul’s fellow army men do not survive. After the loss of Paul’s closest friends, returning to the front was hard for him. The days were getting cold and one by one he watched his friends die. The hardest loss was that of Kat. After Kat had been shot, Paul had to carry Kat to the nearest first-aid station a few miles away. Kat was the last of Paul's friends to die in the war. Then, in October of 1918, Paul is killed on a quiet day shortly before the armistice ends the war.As mentioned previously, the story is told from Paul’s point of view. This view of his is parallel to that of Remarque’s. Remarque’s characterization of paul and the other soldiers is intended to convey information and instruction to the reader. For example the way these characters are de...
