The Meaninglessness of War
All Quiet on the Western FrontThe existential realization that the war is pointless, serving only the interests of the powerful, and that the soldiers are victims of a senseless slaughter.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Question of the War's Cause
The Question of the War's Cause
The Discussion
The soldiers discuss why the war is happening. Tjaden says he has no quarrel with the French. Kropp questions the role of the Kaiser.
The Conclusion
They conclude that the war is caused by the rulers, not the people. The soldiers are pawns in a game they do not understand.
The Bitterness
The realization breeds cynicism. The war is a senseless waste. The soldiers have no stake in the outcome.
The Hospital Epiphany
The Hospital Epiphany
The Sight of Suffering
Paul sees the endless stream of wounded, the amputations, the dying. The hospital is a factory of human misery.
The Reflection
He thinks that if a thousand years of culture could not prevent this, then it is all meaningless. The war is a triumph of barbarism.
The Despair
He is overwhelmed by despair. The war has no purpose. It is just destruction for its own sake.
The Final Acceptance
The Final Acceptance
The Stoicism
Paul accepts his fate. He is without hope, but also without fear. The war has taken everything, so he has nothing left to lose.
The Indifference
He no longer cares about the outcome. The armistice is coming, but it does not matter. He is already dead inside.
The Death
His death is the ultimate statement of meaninglessness. He dies on a quiet day, a statistic. The war goes on without him.
During a rest period, after the Kaiser's inspection
During Paul's stay in the Catholic hospital
October 1918
