Exceptionalism in All Quiet on the Western Front - Research Paper Example

?Introduction The concept of exceptionalism and defining one’s identity over another one that is pertinent in culture and literature. This creates a sense of identity among the readers while showing divisions among other groups that are within a book, used specifically to create a sense of conflict. In the book “All Is Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Remarque, there is a sense of exceptionalism that is displayed through the narration. This is done to show a display of the war while creating division among the characters throughout the book. More important, the technique used is able to display the concept of division in the war and the tensions which this creates. The exceptionalism which is used remains throughout the book as an expression of the war; however, it is broken by the end of the book to show the shock and reality of war meaning more than the boundaries created by the country which one is a part of. The exceptionalism breaks enough to show that the soldiers were the exception, as opposed to the patriotism and beliefs about the war which many had. Defining Sides and Exceptionalism The concept of exceptionalism by the narrator is displayed from the first pages. The technique is used with the knowledge that the narrator is in a war for Germany and is fighting in France. While there is little reference to the patriotism held in Germany, there is a focus on the other surrounding countries and how these forces are causing the main suffering of the soldiers. For instance, the narrator states “It is true that we have no right to this windfall. The Prussian is not so generous. We have only a miscalculation to thank for it….on the last day an astonishing number of English heavies opened up on us with high –explosive, drumming ceaselessly on our position, so that we suffered severely and came back only eighty strong” (Remarque, 2). The beginning narration shows this exceptionalism by remarking the Prussians as not being generous and how the English caused several deaths in the army. One is then instantly sympathetic to the soldiers in Germany and the attacks that are heard. More important, a sense of boundaries to the other countries is created with the main identity showing a sense of being merciless and causing the suffering throughout Germany. The approach of creating boundaries and defining exceptionalism by building a sense of mercy to the German troops is a tactic which the narrator displays throughout the entire book. The definition of exceptionalism is then seen through the eye of the narrator, which makes the reader sympathetic to the side that is being spoken about. The idea of warfare that is expressed becomes a means of protecting the country against the actions being taken from the other countries. It also associates with the reader being able to witness the actions which are taken, similar to a news related item. When reading this, the individual has knowledge only about the side of the narrator and the attacks that are causing suffering from the Americans, English or the Prussians. The division is instantly created because of the initiative to narrate and express the divisions of identity by nationality first (Atwood, 31). The division which was created according to the countries was furthered as the war continued, specifically by showing how Germany and France lost the battle to others who had more. For instance, the end of the book states how America and the English came in with “new” materials to fight (Remarque, 259). This approach shows how the divisions in country were based on the strategies which were used for war and left Germany and France at a disadvantage. It also shows how there was an unfair treatment and approach toward the war, specifically because these new strategies led to pointed deaths that the narrator speaks about. Each of these complexities then leads to sympathy with the soldiers in France and Germany as the exception fighting the war, despite the loss which occurred. Patriotism and the War The narrations of divisions that are against other countries also reflect the attitude about patriotism and how this relates to the war. The narrator doesn’t move into the concept of the war with the ideology that Germany was right in the attacks or in making the men fight. However, there is a sense of patriotism which comes from the men’s hard work in the military and with their commitment to serving in the war, despite the conditions, even when it is known that they would lose. The characters of perseverance and the dedication displayed to the end of the book then become a reflection of the Germans and divide this against the others in the war. “There are too many fresh English and American regiments over there….Too many new guns. Too many new aeroplanes. But we are emaciated and starved. Our food is bad and mixed up with so much substitute stuff that it makes us ill. The factory owners in Germany have grown wealthy; - dysentery dissolves our bowels” (Remarque, 280). This excerpt is important in defining the type of exceptionalism that the narrator points out. There is a direct boundary created with the English and American, specifically because of the material wealth. However, this same disregard is given to the Germans for taking advantage of wealth by supplying food to the soldiers. The exceptionalism come from the young boys who remain devoted to fighting in the battle, despite the problems which are being faced both nationally and internationally. The idea of patriotism then comes from the younger heroes who have to battle with both the internal problems and with the need to combat against those in the army. The approach to patriotism which is taken through the narrator is able to express a line not only outside of the lines and into enemy territory. The reference to the German who is gaining wealth and the commitment of the men is an example of what it means to be truly patriotic and sacrifice for a country. This approach creates a mythology which is linked to the idea of politics and those who serve the country. The myth is based on developing a sense of heroism to those committed to the country, specifically because of their sacrifice from the daily comforts and pleasures of life as well as the conflicts which were a part of this time frame. This approach was used because it matched with the sense of realism that was a part of the politics during the time. More important, there was the ability to create an understanding of human conflict from the political decisions made. The human conflict came from the desire to continue to have Germany as a prosperous country while the war was not as supported by those who were building wealth. The division then was based on those committed to the country and which sacrificed their livelihoods for this, as well as the political stereotypes and peaceful living in the country which disregarded the realities of what it meant to be patriotic (North, 132). Another example which shows the same division is when the narrator decides to take six weeks leave to go to his home. The same division of patriotism between what Germany was and the sacrifice which the soldiers made for true freedom is shown in this example. The division which is created is based on the narrator not being able to relate to those who are around him while remaining in a state of shock because of what he has seen and experienced from the war. There is a sudden inability for him to fit into the surroundings and misunderstandings by others because of their belief in patriotism, as opposed to the experiences that have occurred. This is furthered by the mentality of others in the war that has the same sense of exceptionalism. “I am almost afraid to tell the little brunette that I am going away… But she merely nods and takes no special notice. At first I am at a loss to understand, then it suddenly dawns on me. Yes, Leer is right: if I were going up to the front, then she would have called me again ‘pauvre garcon’; but merely going on leave – she does not want to hear about that” (Remarque, 153). These examples show how the patriotism and the exceptionalism is specific to those who are fighting in combat, while the rest of Germany is divided and is no longer important to the patriotism of the country. The division then lies on those who remain devoted to the battle as opposed to those who continue to live in the past comforts of what the country was. The Realities of Exceptionalism The definition of exceptionalism in most literature is based on creating an exception to a country, individual or group that is above others. However, in Remarque’s approach, this is changed. Exceptionalism is based on understanding how the patriotism, condition of the soldiers and the overall commitment to Germany was not realistically based on the sense of pride, defense or freedom. Instead, those which were in the battle field were simply put into a position out of ignorance. Once in the battle field, the exceptionalism became based on responding to the given conditions. The idea of heroism and patriotism developed from those that were fighting and the need to survive becoming the daily objective. The realistic approach which is taken by the author then shows how the heroism and glory which is usually defined with exceptionalism and the divisions made is one which is only a romantic ideal. Instead, there is the creation of the story as being brutal, hypocritical and filled with illusion. The war and the idea of patriotism to the country remain destructive, while the individual is only trying to survive past the situation which has been placed as the main force (Bloom, 63). The realistic approach which is taken by the narrator is furthered by the disregard and opposition to the war. Different moments in the story reveal how the war, while building a sense of patriotism, demolished the soldiers, either by killing them or leaving them in shock. The remembrance of the war becomes one based on the ideology of the country being great and being able to have power and a sense of freedom. However, the remembrance of the soldiers is based on what it meant to survive and how to justify both defeats and wins in each battle. The realism that is taken with this specific piece of fiction is then able to display the exceptionalism toward the soldiers, as opposed to others which were surrounding the war. The reality of the war is that the soldiers were the ones which were suffering, had casualties and which survived the everyday complexities from Germany and surrounding countries. This realism then causes the reader to believe more in the soldiers with exceptionalism, while the boundaries initially created through the countries are secondary (Bloom, 129). There are several examples where the narrator changes the idea of exceptionalism from being one of the patriotism of the land to the ability for the soldier to survive. The beginning when there are several battles by those who are fighting is a display. The rations of foods, inability to stay clean, problems with basic care and the continuous need to move out of the complexities of the battle add into the continuous tension of the soldiers. The reality of the soldiers continues to be displayed with the conflicts which continue to rise. The exceptionalism then is not based on the battle between sides, but instead by noting the difficulties which the soldiers have to go through and the way in which they gave their lives for fighting in the war. The realities which are pointed out by the narrator throughout the story become the main way in which the division of countries and Germany become secondary to the exceptionalism from the soldiers. The division of countries, while noted in the beginning because of the conflicts, relates to both sides creating conflicts and attacking with more materials. This breaks when the Germans are noted for not providing the correct supplies. The exceptionalism toward the sides of fighting is also broken when the narrator can no longer relate to those in his home country. The realities of the battle turn into exceptionalism when there is finally a time of silence and when all becomes quiet on the Western front. “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” (Remarque, 296). The quote which ends the book adds into the exceptionalism by showing how the soldiers went through the suffering while the only time for peace was death. By defining this reality, there is a tribute to the soldiers as the heroes of the war and the ones which went through the struggles and sacrifice while losing their lives. In the end, the difference is from the need to find a sense of peace from the struggles which occurred in the war. Conclusion The concept of exceptionalism as displayed in Remarque’s “All Is Quiet on the Western Front” is one which creates boundaries and divisions through the book. The beginning of this shows divisions between the different countries, specifically with showing the brutality of attacks that occur. However, this later unravels the same divisions of identity and boundaries with individuals living in Germany that are unaware of the situations of the soldiers against those fighting on the front. The exceptionalism which one is left with breaks down the boundaries of taking a side or having a sense of patriotism toward a country in the war. Instead, one is left with exceptionalism toward the soldiers, each who sacrificed their peace of mind and individual lives for the battles which were fought. The display throughout the book then allows one to understand the realities of war with the sense of exceptionalism displayed from the soldiers. Works Cited Atwood, Paul. “Teaching About War in a Time of War.” The Radical Teacher. (72), 2005. Bloom, Harold. Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. Infobase Publishing: New York, 2009. North, Joanna. Exploring Forgiveness. University of Wisconsin Press: Wisconsin, 1998. Remarque, Erich. All Quiet on the Western Front Ballantine Publishing Group: New York, 1982. Read More