The Failure of Authority and Education

The betrayal of the younger generation by their teachers and parents, who preached patriotism and sent them to die in a war they did not understand.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Betrayal of Kantorek

The Betrayal of Kantorek The Persuasion Kantorek, the schoolmaster, uses his authority to persuade the students to volunteer. He speaks of duty and honor. The students trust him. The First Death Joseph Behm, who was reluctant, is killed. The others realize that Kantorek's words were empty. He sent them to die for nothing. The Reversal Later, Kantorek is drafted and humiliated by his former student. The authority of the teacher is shown to be hollow. The system of education has failed.

The Failure of the Fatherland

The Failure of the Fatherland The Empty Phrases The soldiers are told they are fighting for the Fatherland. But the Fatherland is a distant abstraction. The reality is the mud, the blood, and the death. The Disconnect The civilians at home talk about the war as a glorious struggle. The soldiers know the truth. The authorities have lied to them. The Loss of Trust Paul no longer believes in anything the authorities say. The war has destroyed his faith in the old order. The education system has produced a generation of victims.

Early in the novel, in flashback

Throughout the novel