Psychological Effects of War in All Quiet on the Western Front

Abstract

Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front changed the way the world viewed World War I. His harsh and honest portrayal of the soldiers’ experiences on the front lines gives readers a glimpse into unimaginable horrors. The physical brutality of WWI aside, there was a large psychological price to be paid by the men – their youth was lost, their memories were painful rather than comforting, and home ceased to exist outside of the army. This study analyzes these psychological effects in All Quiet and the one silver lining – comradeship. The key to understanding Remarque’s novel is the comradeship the men find, whether it be amongst themselves or with the enemy soldiers, because this comradeship is what allows them to cope with the nightmare they are living.