Ho 1

Vickey Ho

Dadabhoy, Per. 1

30 April 2016

Word Count: 558

Betrayal by Authority

All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Remarque, tells a story about Paul Baumer, a

young soldier, and the acts of betrayal by the older generation, his school teacher, and the

government. Throughout the novel, the author uses pathos to demonstrate Paul’s mental

development through the harsh war and the acts of betrayal he encounters. After enlisting in

World War 1 with his classmates and learning about the death of Joseph Behm, Paul states, “The

idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and

a more humane wisdom.” (12). Paul demonstrates the betrayal by the older generation to the

younger one by convincing and persuading them to sacrifice their lives by fighting for their

nation through the idea of patriotism and honor. After facing the truth of the war, the soldiers

realizes the false idea of chivalry they were taught, and that the older generation failed them by

criticizing the young ones of being unpatriotic when not enlisting in the war but not experiencing

it themselves. When discussing about his old school teacher, Kantorek, Paul explains,“He gave

us long lectures until the whole of our class went under his shepherding to the District

Commandant and volunteered.” (15). Because Kantorek spends time accentuating and

inculcating nationalism, he fills his students heads with the idea that the students have a duty to

their country, and betrays them with his manipulations and lies. The enhanced ideas of

nationalism starts wars and complications while cultivating the minds of students like Paul.
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Furthermore, Paul learns the truth about war and states, “It's all rot that they put in the war-news

about the good humour of the troops, how they are arranging dances almost before they are out

of the front-line.” (140). Paul realizes the misleading information about war through propaganda

like the “Iron Youth”, and fills with odium because of the betrayal from the older generation.

Also, during Paul’s time in war, he is treated unfairly by culpable Corporate Himmelstoss, and

eventually destroys his youth because of the war. When given lunch with little rations, the

soldiers begin to be furious, but the chef announces, “Eighty men can't have what is meant for a

hundred and fifty.” (5). The government provides each soldier with little amounts of food and

clothing, so the soldiers begin to shout for more food. In addition, after losing many soldiers in

the war, the government hurts the people by lowering the recruitment age for enlisting and

allowing innocent, vulnerable kids to become soldiers. After Kemmerich’s amputation on his

leg, Paul calls for the doctor and notices, “The doctor passes by Kemmerich's bed without once

looking at him.” (27). The hospital do not give soldiers proper care and are suppose to help them,

however, when Kemmerich was in pain, the doctor ignored him. Paul realizes that the doctors are

in a hurry do not treat the soldiers with care or respect. Unfortunately, throughout the story, Paul

and his friends encounter acts of betrayal by many people that disappoint them and develop

through the pain as they learn the truth. The younger generation lost their innocence and

understood that their parents, the government, and teachers failed to teach them about the reality

of war. Ultimately, Paul Baumer, a soldier, mentally develops and realizes the false hopes about

nationalism he was taught.