All Quiet On The Western Front Effects Of War Essay

Throughout the ages, wars have wreaked havoc and caused great destruction that lead to the loss of millions of lives. However, wars also have an immensely destructive effect on the individual soldier. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front written by Erich Maria Remarque, one is able to see exactly to what extent soldiers suffered during World War 1 as well as the effect that war had on them. In this essay I will explain the effect that war has on young soldiers by referring to the loss of innocence of young soldiers, the disillusionment of the soldiers and the debasement of soldiers to animalistic men.

Many soldiers entered World War 1 as innocent young boys, but as they experienced the full effect of the war they consequently lost their innocence. In

Essentially, the media had had an enormous effect on individuals during the war. Much of society’s beliefs about the war were influenced by the media’s portrayal of the war. People at home had no idea about the soldiers actually experienced during the war (Hochgesang, Lawyer, et. al., 1999). People trusted the idealised version of the war and were enthusiastic in their efforts of enlisting in the war. However, when they were sent out into the midst of the war many of them realised the misconceptions they had and were led to believe. They became disillusioned as they realized that the war was much more brutal and horrific than they had previously believed. In All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Remarque effectively comments on the horrors of war from Paul’s perspective, especially when Paul comments on injuries the soldiers endure and witness by stating “We see men go on living with the top of their skulls missing; we see soldiers go on running when both their feet have been shot away…Another man…with his guts spilling out over his hands as he holds them in.” (Remarque,