Throughout All Quiet on the
Western Front a recurring theme/motif is the conflict between child and
adult, boy vs. man. Paul Báumer and his fellow soldiers are young, 20 year old boys
forced to suddenly mature and evolve to full grown men in the war. Although the
task is hard because what truly makes an adult, an adult is learning from past
experiences and developing independence. Yet these boys are under strict
control and watched constantly, giving them less of authority. The boys
situation relates to expectation vs. reality, becoming an adult seems to be so fabulous
and portrayed differently as it really is. The reality is, being an adult
requires responsibility and independence, the chance to think on your own
without your parents making the decisions for you. Being an adult is lusted
after, kids dream to ‘grow up’ yet ironically when those kids are adults they
desire their youth again. Although doesn’t everybody want to regain their
innocence, a time when things were simple and so uncomplicated?
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