The Problem of Language in "All Quiet on the Western Front" For it is no easy undertaking, I say, to describe the bottom of the Universe; nor is it for tongues babble childs play. (The Inferno, XXXII, 7-9.) Erich Maria Remarques All Quiet on the Western Front, a novel set in World War I, centers around the wrought by the war on one young German soldier. During his time in the war, Remarques protagonist, PaulBaumer, changes from a rather innocent Romantic to a hardened and somewhat caustic veteran. Moreimportantly, during the course of this metamorphosis, Baumer disaffiliates himself from those societaliconsparents, elders, school, religionthat had been the foundation of his pre-enlistment days. Thisrejectioncomes about as a result of Baumers realization that the pre-enlistment society simply does notunderstand thereality of the Great War. His new society, then, becomes the Company, his fellow trench soldiers, becausethat isa group which does understand the truth as Baumer has experienced it.Remarque demonstrates Baumers disaffiliation from the traditional by emphasizing the language ofBaumerspre- and post-enlistment societies. Baumer either can not, or chooses not to, communicate truthfully withthoserepresentatives of his pre-enlistment and innocent days. Further, he is repulsed by the banal andmeaninglesslanguage that is used by members of that society. As he becomes alienated from his former, traditional,society,Baumer simultaneously is able to communicate effectively only with his military comrades. Since the novelis toldfrom the first person point of view, the reader can see how the words Baumer speaks are at variance withhis truefeelings. In his preface to the novel, Remarque maintains that "a generation of men ... were destroyed bythe war"(Remarque, All Quiet Preface). Indeed, in All Quiet on the Western Front, the meaning of language itselfis, to agreat extent, destroyed.Early in the novel, Baumer notes how his e...
