"He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to one single sentence: 'All Quiet on the Western Front.'"
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The above quotation is an excerpt from Erich Maria Remarque's work of art, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
It was obvious that AQ takes place in a wartime setting. Throughout the novel, we see such a thing frequently in the form of battles, strife and loss. Sometimes the setting is discreet and sometimes it can be painfully evident. But the main attraction in both the novel AND movie is the real life struggle of a young man in the middle of World War One. We see Paul Baumer's struggle through each and every ugly situation, while he forms friendships and loses them. As I analyze the very end of the book/movie, this is the part where Paul dies. Each form of media portrays the front, after the Allies have neared victory. The Germans are losing, so we can imagine what Paul is going through and eventually, he dies. In the novel we have absolutely no idea how he was killed....
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"He had fallen forward and lay on the earth
as though sleeping. Turning him over one saw that
he could not have suffered long; his face had an
expression of calm, as though almost glad the
end had come."
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In contrast, the movie shows us how Paul dies. As he sits in a trench, completely forlorn and oblivious to danger, he sees a butterfly perched on a pierced helmet. Slowly, he reaches out for it; only to be spotted and get sniped by an enemy. We do not see his face, but instead his outreached hand. The hand gradually goes lax and we hear no cries of pain or see no signs of struggle. From this, we can easily assume that Paul died peacefully and was grateful that death has finally arrived. In my opinion, the butterfly had some sort of symbolism.
Next, I will explore the personality changes in Paul Baumer. Prior to his own death, Paul was there to see his friend Kemmerich die. This was likely the first real encounter with death that this young man would have experienced in his young lifetime. From that particular event, Paul became moreso aware of his own life and how precious it was, rather then lingering on the thought of death...
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"The earth is streaming with forces which pour into me through the soles of my feet. The night crackles electrically, the front thunders like a concert of drums. My limbs move supplely, I feel my joints strong, I breathe the air deeply. The night lives, I live. I feel a hunger, greater than what comes from the belly alone."
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After watching many comrades lose their lives and returning home on leave with a heavy heart, we begin to see significant changes in Paul. Towards his mother and sister, he is insensitive and secretive. We see this change in both the novel and the movie, but we do not see his conversation with Kemmerich's mother. This would have added a bit more depth to that particular scene. Ultimately, the death of Katczinsky is what sends him over the deep end. It destroys the final thread of humanity within, and leaves him forlorn and uncaring towards anything and everything - including his own life. In fact, Paul seems to hold serene thoughts towards death alone, as if he anticipates it. Katczinsky was certainly the last piece of sanity which composed Paul, and the loss of this man simply abolished whatever composed young Baumer, emotionally and mentally. We can see this transformation from caring civilian to an empty husk throughout both the novel and movie versions. After the loss of Kat, Paul goes from a caring soul into that of an emotionless, oblivious young man; ultimately losing his will to live. The movie and novel go hand in hand with showing these changes, as there are no really big differences.
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"Do I walk? Do I have feet still? I raise my eyes,
I let them move round, and turn myself with them,
one circle, and I stand in the midst. All is as
usual. Only the Militiaman Stanislaus Katczinsky
has died...
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Finally, I will touch down on general mood and changes. The only key differences between the novel and the movie would include Paul's feelings towards death, and how he handles it. The novel explains exactly that, while the movie shows us Paul's actual death, and the events which led up to it. Both the novel and movie compliment one another as one will fill in the questions left unanswered by the other. Throughout both mediums, Paul's descent into emptiness is immediately followed gradually, through each event. The final scene is a complete contrast, compared to the part in the beginning where Himmelstoss is jumped, spanked and thrown into a patch of mud. The Paul we see in the end would never think of doing something so lighthearted, for he is too forlorn to even remember how to laugh again. The mood is somber, yet ushers in a sort of peace and wellbeing, as wee see that Paul has been freed from his torment through death.
In closing, I felt that this essay was extensive, but I had a lot to say. Especially about the butterfly seen at the end of the movie. In my opinion, the novel and movie worked well together at the end. Paul's death was portrayed through different, yet complimentary angles. This essay is not for the mere use of comparing a movie to a book, but, hopefully it will send out a message.. no matter how meagre... that war never gets anything accomplished. It blackens hearts, ruins lives, and shreds away at what makes us human. And, in this timeless documentation.... how something as innocent and simple as a butterfly meant death to one young man, whose life was curtailed too soon.
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(Kill the midi!)
The scene I have chosen to compare and contrast is that of Paul Baumer's death, in the aspects of character revelations and changes. In the following order, I will discuss technical aspects of each respected version of the scene, personality changes and the general mood. This may give a bit of reference to the setting, but I will keep it minimal. Though this essay was originally for school purposes, I just couldn't neglect it. I loved this book, and I wish to voice my analysis of it.... for, these are MY opinions, only meant to arouse thought.
... then I know nothing more."