War is courageous, brave, and shows
a sign of dedication. Putting the image of war being a beautiful thing towards
the beginning of the book, All Quiet on the Western Front, shows an expectation
in the earliest form. Before all the actual stresses war causes, these young
boys make assumptions. The most important theme Remarque is trying to portray
is the false expectation of war through his diction.
Along with the positive factors that
being a soldier brings, there are also many struggles that they must overcome. Paul
Baumer was ignorant understanding that every rose has its thorn. War is not a
beautiful act, but it’s as if this is how Paul sees it. Through the heavenly
imagery, Remarque sets the peaceful expectation, “Around us stretches the
flowery meadow. The grasses sway their tall spears, the white butterflies
flutter around and float on the soft warm wind of the late summer” (9). The
description of the beautiful scene portrays the expectation that the rest of
the war will be this beautiful in the big picture. War is anything but perfect
and good. Paul’s expectations do not line up with reality.
