All Quiet on the Western Front
War is often perceived as glamorous and an adventure to those we are involved. However, war destroys many people in many ways. After fighting in the trenches of World War I, Erich Maria Remarque and Wilfred Owen poured their experiences into works of literature. Even though Remarque and Owen were "enemies" during the war, identical themes can be found in Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front and Owen's "Insensibility" and "Asleep." A theme that runs parallel between the works of both men is that sometimes the living soldiers envy the dead. In the poem "Asleep", Owen stated, "He sleeps. He sleeps less tremulous, less cold than we who must awake, and waking, say Alas!" By this he means that the dead soldier can at last truly be at rest. The living soldiers must awake to the never-ending tortures of war. This theme can also be found in Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front. The soldiers look upon the dead and, in some cases, desire to be dead themselves. Death frees the soldier's minds, which are haunted by the plight of war. Another common theme in the works is that of dehumanization. War strips soldiers of feelings such as compassion and ambition. This is evident in Owen's poem, "Insensibility". Insensible i
Another common theme between both works is that of chance and not knowing what is to come, and the torment from that. In both All Quiet on the Western Front and "Insensibility", the word Chance is highlighted and almost referred to as a person who decides whether a person is survives or not. In "Insensibility", Owen says, "Dullness best solves the tease and doubt of shelling, and Chance's strange arithmetic...". In chapter six of All Quiet on the Western Front, Remarque writes, "The front is a cage in which we must await fearfully whatever may happen. We lie under the network of arching shells and live in suspense of uncertainty. Over us, Chance hovers. If a shot comes, we can duck, that is all; we neither know nor can determine where it will fall. It is Chance that makes us indifferent." Chance determines much of their luck or misfortune. This Chance also often drives the soldiers to insanity because of its great uncertainty.
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Approximate Word count = 821
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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