Corruption In 'All Quiet On The Western Front'
"All Quiet On The Western Front: War and Authority Corruption"
It is always easier to say how you would respond to war while looking upon it as an outsider who has seen little outside of movies and pictures. We tell ourselves "I could never imagine doing that", or "How could any human be so corrupt?" That is what we say, but I wonder what those same men said just prior to their war time experience. Surely they would not follow the same path that so many before them had, choosing to allow war to consume them from the very destructive nature of its existence. In the novel "All Quiet On The Western Front" by Erich Remarque, the author conveys the message of how war can corrupt how people view, respect, and handle authority. Through his writing, he has helped to enlighten the world as to how exactly war can change our views on authority that we once stood firm on. No matter who you are, war can find a way to work into your character, at least in some slight way. One example of this, in regards to the respect for authority, was the way in which soldiers treated Himmelstoss. …show more content…
When he fails to salute, he is made to turn around and approach him properly. Although he follows the protocols after being stopped, it is obvious that he does not care what position that the major holds and views him the same as any other man he passes while walking down the street. "The reality of the front line and the dream world of those who have stayed at home are contrasted time and again" (Wagener 20). While on the front lines it would be suicide to follow every single regulation. For this, soldiers such as Baümer are in a way forced to change their views of authority and the way that they might have once approached someone with such authority. Through this, "one may see how badly war upset these lives" (Kronenberger
It is always easier to say how you would respond to war while looking upon it as an outsider who has seen little outside of movies and pictures. We tell ourselves "I could never imagine doing that", or "How could any human be so corrupt?" That is what we say, but I wonder what those same men said just prior to their war time experience. Surely they would not follow the same path that so many before them had, choosing to allow war to consume them from the very destructive nature of its existence. In the novel "All Quiet On The Western Front" by Erich Remarque, the author conveys the message of how war can corrupt how people view, respect, and handle authority. Through his writing, he has helped to enlighten the world as to how exactly war can change our views on authority that we once stood firm on. No matter who you are, war can find a way to work into your character, at least in some slight way. One example of this, in regards to the respect for authority, was the way in which soldiers treated Himmelstoss. …show more content…
When he fails to salute, he is made to turn around and approach him properly. Although he follows the protocols after being stopped, it is obvious that he does not care what position that the major holds and views him the same as any other man he passes while walking down the street. "The reality of the front line and the dream world of those who have stayed at home are contrasted time and again" (Wagener 20). While on the front lines it would be suicide to follow every single regulation. For this, soldiers such as Baümer are in a way forced to change their views of authority and the way that they might have once approached someone with such authority. Through this, "one may see how badly war upset these lives" (Kronenberger