Simple Details

In the eyes of a civilian the world swirls into a combination of the big things around him; the buildings, the large fields, fancy restraints and busy streets are just some of the common ones. However in peering through the eyes of a soldier you may see many different things. In that large building one might see a hiding spot for the enemy, or in that field a mound to pause behind, and in the streets memories of bombs exploding upon the innocent may flash by. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, the author tries to convey a strong feeling that the citizens of the world take more for granted than they think they do.

It’s something we all know we do. It’s those things that you never realized that you possessed until they were gone; it’s the simple details that make up a large percentage of life that we as people tend to pass by without even a glance every day.

So once in a while a reminder is presented to cherish what you have because it may be gone tomorrow. Whether that reminder be in something tragic, like a death or a mere slip up. With that as human beings it is easy to think about what we have, but how long does that lesson really last? Is it ever a constant effort to maintain a connection to the realization of what you actually have? Sure, everyone can be thankful for their family, and home each day. The problem lies in understanding the importance of the little things. Because it is not the home that matters, it’s all the little details that go into making it your own, protected, haven to return to each day. The soldiers in the novel didn’t have something to recognize as their home and with that lacked a lot of the big things that are available to civilians. Therefore they took advantage, and found great enjoyment from the little things that were available to them but too little for the average person to realize they possessed.

All Quiet on the Western Front Chapter 2

Authors Note: This is a response to express what I believe is one of the emerging themes in chapter 2.

Guns blazing, blood spurting, and men all over the world falling on the fields of war in death. The scene of World War 1 ripped the world apart as bombs destroyed cities and left innocent children to fend for themselves. Somewhere in this madness however Remarque writes of the much different life of a few soldiers who have received a break in the action. Chapter 2 elucidates the theme of discipline and obedience which is supported by the author's diction, syntax and craft.

Upon entering the forces it becomes immediately apparent that one must give up a number of the amenities enjoyed by the general population and in return receive a sense of discipline unlike any other. It’s a place where death looms overhead in the same way that that dirt covers the earth. In a place where the stench of gangrene and blood fills the air what is that holds the men together. It’s their discipline and obedience to seniority that allows them to maintain a sense of togetherness. Without it they would be wandering in a world of pity and disgrace. However a soldier must also maintain a sense of individuality so that they can retain a sense of responsibility and do not lose their identity. The characters in the novel dig into this theme as they return to camp and “became hard, suspicious, pitiless, vicious, tough--and that was good; for these attributes were just what we lacked”. No matter how much defiance they showed the disciplines of army life still weaseled its way into them. They still maintained their identity and were not simply robots controlled by their superiors. They had to develop a blockade for the thoughts of death, as they witnessed friends, and brothers dying before their very eyes. To convey such a strong idea to the reader, the author used strong diction, and also used  a number of varying sentence structures that allowed him to dig into deeper ideas. Such craft in writing provides a successful outlet for ideas that go farther than just scratching the surface. All goes to show how discipline and obedience will be a clear theme throughout the novel.

All Quiet on the Western Front Chapter 1

Author's note: This is a response to describe an emerging motif in chapter 1.


   Even though it was just a short chapter, chapter 1 revealed a number of insightful motifs that are sure to amplify the major theme's of the novel. One that was very clear to me was the motif of the simple things in life. Throughout the chapter the soldiers expressed their gratitude for things such as fatty food, separate toilets, and a double serving of rations.
           This motif of all the simple things that most people take for granted make the reader examine their own lives, and realize how much they really have. It causes a reader to really see what the people on the front lines are grateful for when for most of us, it's a part of our daily lives. I believe that this motif could possibly suggest that the theme of reality that could exist in the rest of the novel. In the theme of reality it would express that we live in a world where reality is not what we think it is.