The Boys Attitude to War in All Quiet on the Western...

Compare ‘Gallipoli and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front in terms of the:  · Boys attitude to war  · Reasons for enlistment  · Experiences on the front How do these change their attitude to war? What does this tell you about the similarities and differences the Australians and Germans experiences? Analysis of Major Characters Paul Bà ¤umer As the novels narrator and protagonist, Paul is the central figure in All Quiet on the Western Front and serves as the mouthpiece for Remarques meditations about war. Throughout the novel, Pauls inner personality is contrasted with the way the war forces him to act and feel. His memories of the time before the war show that he was once a very different man from the despairing soldier who now†¦show more content†¦The inclusion of a seemingly anachronistic literary typeÂâ€"the scheming or dangerous diminutive manÂâ€"may seem out of place in a modern novel. Yet this quality of Kantorek arguably reflects the espousal of dated ideas by an older generation of leaders who betray their followers with manipulations, ignorance, and lies. While they taught that duty to ones country is the greatest thing, Paul writes in Chapter One, we already knew that death-throes are stronger. As schoolboys, Paul and his friends believed that Kantorek was an enlightened man whose authority derived from his wisdom; as soldiers, they quickly learn to see through Kantoreks rhetoric and grow to despise him, especially after the death of Joseph Behm. That Kantorek is eventually drafted and makes a terrible soldier reflects the uselessness of the ideals that he touts. Corporal Himmelstoss Like Kantorek, Himmelstoss does not figure heavily in the novels plot, but his thematic importance makes him significant to the book as a whole. One of the themes of All Quiet on the Western Front is that war brings out a savagery and hunger for power that lie latent in many people, even if they are normally respectable, nonviolent citizens. Himmelstoss is just such a figure: an unthreatening postman before the war, he evolves into the terror of Klosterberg, the most feared disciplinarian in the training camps. Himmelstoss is extremely cruel to his recruits, forcing them to obey ridiculous and dangerousShow MoreRelated All Quiet on the Western Front Essay1388 Words   |  6 PagesAll Quiet on the Western Front The novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque describes the psychological and physical battles of young soldiers such as the main character Paul Baumer who was pressured by the spirit of nationalism and his school master into joining the German army during World War I. In the beginning the young students are glowing with enthusiasm with the honor to be trusted with serving their nation in a time of crisis. The inexperienced soldiers soon looseRead MoreAll Quiet On The Western Front By Erich Maria Remarque1714 Words   |  7 PagesAll Quiet on the Western Front written by Erich Maria Remarque is a narrative describing World War I from a German soldier s perspective. The story is narrated by Paul Baà ¼mer and predominantly revolves around the experiences of him and his comrades Kemmerich, Katczinsky, Kropp, Mà ¼ller, and Leer. The novel begins with Paul Baà ¼mer and his friends in a cheerful mood as extra rations are being allocated to them due to the missing so ldiers. During this event, Baà ¼mer introduces and describes the variousRead MoreFilmreport All Quiet on the Western Front1363 Words   |  6 PagesPlot Paul Bà ¤umer is a German, young boy, who, together with his classmates, enlists for the army to fight in the Great War. Full of enthusiasm and adventurous thoughts, they arrive at the front, but then are faced with the horrific and soul-destroying war. One by one the classmates are fall in action†¦ 1. What is the title of this film? When was it made? Who wrote the original novel? Title: All Quiet on the Western Front Made in: 1979 Author: Erich Maria Remarque 2. Why did theRead MoreAll Quiet On The Western Front By Erich Maria Remarque1482 Words   |  6 PagesThe novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is a tale about a group of young gentlemen in Germany who decide to join the army, and fight in World War I for their country. The boys become interested in fighting for their country after their schoolmaster informs them about the importance of this war. With much excitement, the young men have high expectations of what they want the war to be like. Throughout the course of the novel, the attitudes and opinions of the boys change asRead MoreAll Quiet on the Western Front by Ericha Maria Remarque935 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"I think it [war] is more of a kind of fever. No one in particular wants it, and then all at once there it is. We didn’t want the war, the others say the same thing- and yet half the world is in it all the same. (206)† Erich Remarque describes how war is an odd sort of happening through Albert Kropp, one of the most intelligent young men of Paul Bà ¤umer’s company. Remarque, himself a German World War 1 veteran, uses the characters of Paul’s company to channel his frustrations from his experiencesRead MorePolitics of All Quiet on the Western Front1800 Words   |  8 PagesMaria Remarque s All Quiet on the Western Front is without a doubt one of the most real adaptations of World War I and the effects on its participants that has ever been written. With its simple, clear cut, and to the point style of writing, it is able to capture as close to the true experience of the war as possible. Because of this, readers do not have to search through pages of fancy wording and over the top descriptions to find the reality of what Remarque is saying. War is not something toRead MoreAll Quiet On The Western Front Essay2441 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿ All Quiet on the Western Front All Quiet on the Western Front could definitely be considered an anti-war novel. The changes the characters in the novel subjected themselves to throughout the book allow the reader to view the negative effects soldiers went through during, as well as after the war. Anti-war means that you are against the war and leaning more towards the idea of peace. This novel showed the dissatisfaction and disappointment in each character once they begun toRead More Attitudes Towards the War in Regeneration and All Quiet on the Western Front2528 Words   |  11 Pagesboth war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both. -- Abraham Flexner Regeneration is an anti-war novel, reflecting the issues and the concerns in wartime Britain. All Quiet on the Western Front is also an influential anti-war novel and an important chronicle of World War 1. Both are historical fiction set near the end of the war, 1917-1918. The two texts explore similar themes in condemning the war. Remarque’s novel (All Quiet on the Western Front) is aRead MoreWar and Its Costs Essay1126 Words   |  5 PagesWar and Its Costs World War One was said to be the war to end all wars, little did the people know that that was going to be proven wrong 19 later. The perception of war was clearly misstated to new recruits. Both protagonists in both books thought the war was just a time to prove yourself and fight for your country, little did they know that the point of them being in the war was to teach them how to stay alive. Paul Baumer, the protagonist in All Quiet on the Western Front, got use toRead More Johnny Got His Gun Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagespersonalize the story by making the reader feel bad for the main character. At this time many perceived fighting in a war to be noble but for most of the soldiers it was anything but noble. Many times television shows, movies, and books had glamorized war, but that was not the truth. This book showed the harsh reality of war that most people didn’t know existed at the time. War is something that no man should ever hope for, but young men were told that it was glorious to fight for your country

Essay on Stagnant Lives in Streetcar Named Desire and...

Stagnant Lives in Streetcar Named Desire and Glass Menagerie The Stagnant Lives of Blanche DuBois and Amanda Wingfield All of Williams significant characters are pathetic victims--of time, of their own passions, of immutable circumstance (Gantz 110). This assessment of Tennessee Williams plays proves true when one looks closely at the characters of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire and Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. Their lives run closely parallel to one another in their respective dramas. They reject their present lives, yet their methods of escape are dissimilar. Both women have lost someone they cared for, and so seek to hold, and unintentionally suffocate, those they have left. A major†¦show more content†¦This loss and the subsequent loss of her teaching position cause her to seek out her married sister, Stella. When she arrives at Elysian Fields, she quickly realizes that her sisters home is not the haven she imagined it to be, but an entire different world that is totally unfamiliar to her. This realization, combined with the loss of Allan, causes her to cling desperately to her sister. She even goes so far as attempting to persuade Stella away from her husband, a plan that backfires, leaving Blanche more alone than ever. The suffering and erosion of the past leave her with an incapacity for the present (Gilman 148). Like Blanches Belle Reve, the lost home of Amandas youth, Blue Mountain, is forever on her mind, with its fairy-tale existence of governors balls and gentlemen callers. She floats in a mist of old recollections of gentle grace and decorum (Clurman) Also similar to Blanche, Amanda has lost her husband. However, Amandas spouse does not die; he deserts her and her two children. This event does not seem to scar her emotionally as the loss of Allan did Blanche because, though deeply hurt be his desertion, Amanda considers her erstwhile husband the embodiment of romance, associating him with the happy time of her life at Blue Mountain (Tischier 319). The small fatherless family now lives in the cramped apartment with only a

The Impact Of The Revolutionary War On American Free Essays

American Revolution was key factor for setting up elementary and long lasting change in the values of Americans. During the period 1775-1800, the revolutionary war played a vital role in the drastic change of American society in each of the following sectors: the American economy due to increased taxation and inadequate money, the American legal system with its establishment of the Electoral College and constitution, and finally; the American culture with its ideas related to racial and gender discrimination. Even though the revolutionary war lasted for only a few years, the Revolution itself lasted for more than a century and its impact can still be seen today. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact Of The Revolutionary War On American or any similar topic only for you Order Now A lot of early settlers who had to go through great difficulties while distancing themselves from Britain for their freedom had a feeling of revolt. The revolutionary war greatly influenced the American society and finally resulted in an economically stable and independent country that has achieved victory in spite of facing many hardships. Impact of American Revolutionary War By the time American Revolution came to an end, the American economy had extremely weakened because there was a dearth of currency and trade. This is opposite to the commonly held conviction that the economy of America flourished after the revolution due to the influx of taxes. Britain exported a huge amount of goods to American after the revolutionary war. This resulted in a great loss to the local American industries. Moreover in 1784, Spain blocked its Mississippi River to all of the American trade, and asserted for a part of land close to the Gulf of Mexico that had been actually allotted to America by Britain. Not to forget this piece of land was given up by Britain in order to persuade America to stop coalition with France. America was discouraged from stopping its nation because of the restive Indians, who were really encouraged to do so by France and England. The Indians held up to Britain as they thought that if they would win in case, the development of America into the West would stop, and they would be able to save their Indian land. France claimed the money America had owed to France; nevertheless America was not stable enough economically to ay off their debts. America said no to pay back the taxes. Still in the war, America had made their own currencies and tax barriers, as a result of which extra taxes were not privileged to citizens. Most of the states of America were doubtful regarding the taxes on good from other states. In few of the states, a lot of farmers were losing their land because they did not have the funds for these taxes. This problem caused the well-known â€Å"Shays’ Rebellion† in 1786, where citizens actually assaulted the tax collectors. The terror of that kind of cruel violent behavior persisted and aggravated the fear of society. Due to the debts from the war, the British government forced more taxes on its American settlers, firstly on sugar in the â€Å"the Revenue Act†, then on all business deals involving paper in the â€Å"the Stamp Act†. Mostly in Virginia, people were protesting against these taxes. In 1764 the General Assembly officially concluded that only the Virginia House of Burgesses had the legal rights to tax the people o Virginia. The upcoming resolutions and sanctions welcomed each of the new taxes imposed. In conditions of lawful concerns, the American Revolution significantly affected the American society with the formation of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and other official documents, in addition to the foundation of the Electoral College. The founding of the recent American democratic system greatly relied on these precious papers. The new Constitution was commenced in 1789, this was the time when the population was increasing at an astounding speed and public was adhering to the laws. By 1791, America acquired a â€Å"Bill of Rights† that modified all the issues and is still followed today. Such official documents are still conserved today as they were prepared originally as the still have the same regard as lawful and ethical codes for society today. Due to the revolutionary war many people had to migrate to America and most of the early permanent colonists in America showed signs of preliminary hate for Britain when they went through the strenuous and lengthy migration to states. As the â€Å"Pennsylvania Packet† describes, America was the homeland of free people. Despite the fact that the document is partial, as the author conveys intense hostility for Britain, it has helped in explaining the nationalism of the settlers who preferred the idea of democratic system and wanted to be free from Britain’s tyrannical rule. Conclusion The American Revolution had a greatly affected the American society in different ways. The war resulted in a weak economic system, suffering due to excessive migration of people to America, unemployment, taxes, debts and gender and racial discrimination. But with the help of great political leaders and national heroes America was able to form the basis for its current Constitution and legal values, and encourage women and other races to fight for their rights. The well established Constitution was the main pillar towards the regeneration and development of the state without which the survival would have been impossible. Endnotes 1. Ward, Harry M. Between the Lines: Banditti of the American Revolution (Westport, Conn. , 2002), pg 311. 2. Kierner, Cynthia A. Southern Women in Revolution, 1776-1800: Personal and Political Narratives (Columbia, S. C. , 1998), pg 176. 3. Wood, Betty. Gender, Race, and Rank in a Revolutionary Age: The Georgia Lowcountry, 1750-1820 (Athens, Ga. , 2000), pg 121. 4. Coulter, E. M. American Revolution: The Story of the Growth of a Tradition,† GHQ 39 (June 2003): 118-51. 5. Davis, Derek H. Society and the American Revolution. Journal of Church State, 0021969X, 2001, Vol. 36, Issue 4, pg 19. 6. Ibid pg 23-27. 7. Hahn, Steven. The Effects of American Revolution. New Republic, 00286583, 2006, Vol. 235, Issue 6, pg 12. 8. Ibid pg 15-18. 9. Gross, Robert. Origins Of The American Revolution. Virginia Quarterly Review, 0042675X, 2001, Vol. 77, Issue 1, pg 48. 10. Merrill Jensen, The Founding of a Nation: A History of the American Revolution, 1763-1776 (New York, 1999), pg 436-38. 11. Richard, Alden, The American Revolution, 1775-1783 (New York, 1997), pg 7. Bibliography Alden, K. A History of the American Revolution (New York, 1999), pg 325. Coulter, E. M. , American Revolution: The Story of the Growth of a Tradition,† GHQ 39 (June 2003): 118-51. Countryman, A. People in Revolution: The American Revolution and Political Society in New York, 1760-1780 (New York, 1999), pg 193. How to cite The Impact Of The Revolutionary War On American, Essays

Double Consciousness in Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison free essay sample

Ralph Ellison is one of the few figures in American literature that has the ability to properly place the struggles of his characters fluidly on paper. His dedication to properly depict the true plight of African Americans in this exclusionary society gave birth to one of the greatest novels in American history. Invisible Man is a novel which tells the story of an African American man, and his journey through a society which continuously refused to see him for who he truly was. In the novel Ellison gives us a main character without a name, this at first may shock any average reader but once one falls into the enchantments of the novel, one can see that the lack of a name for the main character is a testament to his invisibility. The invisibility of which Ellison writes is not a physical invisibility but more of a social invisibility, the kind of social invisibility which marginalizes those of color in this society. The idea of not having an identity or of one already being chosen for you may seem alien to those who believe America to be the land of liberty and character as it directly contradicts it. This lack of identity has been present in the African American ever since he was stripped of his humanity by the colonizers on their way to the new world. Because of the very nature of Slavery, the lack of identity within the slaves is essential for the slave masters as it assures them that the slave would always be what they (the slave master)( wish for them to be. Unfortunately this did not end with slavery for the Black man is still seeing in America only as the white man wishes to see him. W. E. B. Dubois best define this phenomenon in his book The Souls of Black Folks in which he introduces us to the notion of Double Consciousness. Attempting to explain the concept of Double Consciousness Dubois stated â€Å"the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second sight in this American world –- a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness, an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder†. In Invisible Man, our main character finds himself realizing his lack of self-identity. Throughout the novel he is continuously thrust into situations that show him just how invisible the African American in American society. His first encounter with his own emptiness came when he was awarded a scholarship by a group of white men from his hometown. The main character is then invited to speak at a dinner in front of the white men who awarded him this scholarship. Upon arriving at the dinner the main character is told that before he delivers his speech he must first enter himself in to a â€Å"battle royal† with other young black men where they must all fight each other blindfolded. The fight was only the beginning of the torture and humiliation which these kids face. It was only after having to pick up money from and electrified rug, and seeing a nude dancer who gave into it all, that our main character was given his scholarship. This is the first time in the novel where we witness the lack of power of African Americans in this society. We see here that despite the fact that our main character has just won a scholarship and now has the potential to obtain a career, he will never be seen as nothing more than entertainment for whites. Here we see Dubois notion of Double Consciousness in full effect as the main character is force to present himself in a way that he did not intend; here we see how powerlessness and invisibility go hand in hand. The journey in which our main character embarks in shows him the true face of America, a face which looks at the black man through glass eyes. In this journey our main character also see’s the many faces of the black man, and how all of these faces where created in response to the actions of the white man never in response to one’s own actions. Towards the end of the novel the main character finds himself in a difficult predicament as he is being hounded by men who want him dead. Despite this, he manages to find a pair of glasses and a huge hat which he believes would disguise him just enough so that he can escape his potential murderers. As he walks around Harlem in his new guise, many begin to confuse him for someone called Rinehart who seems to be bookie, a pimp, and a preacher all at once. The ability to be so many things is at first attractive to the main character as he slowly begins to sink into the role of Rinehart, however he soon realizes that Rinehart’s multiple identities are merely a reflection of his inauthenthicity. Rinehart has no true self-consciousness and has allowed for others to create his image for him; Rinehart is only identified in the novel by others, never by himself. Rinehart’s character is representative of the notion of Double Consciousness as it shows the black men without the ability or better yet the privilege of self identity. Invisible Man is much more than just a novel about a man who lacks an identity, it is about a society which has continuously failed to give an entire the opportunity to be free, independent, and visible. Ellison has the ability to touch upon the issues of society in a way which makes for a pleasant read but a rude awakening as the black man continues to live a life in which he is not to be himself for he is not allow to know himself.