American Dream Example Essay Example
American Dream Example Essay Example

American Dream Example Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (907 words)
  • Published: August 17, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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In Remarque's "All Quiet On The Western Front," the introduction to the character 'Kantorek' involves multiple characters in one scene. This technique by Remarque effectively keeps the reader engaged and interested in the plot. The soldiers' perspective towards Kantorek is highly biased. They refer to him as short and jestingly remark on how often short people are responsible for the miseries of the world. This humorous statement, though not necessarily true, portrays the soldiers' negative perception of Kantorek.

Moreover, considerable insights into his personality are disclosed. He played a pivotal role in influencing his young students to join up at the recruitment office. It is clear that he swayed their feelings and was portrayed as obstinately biased, pressuring the men to go to war without contemplating possible consequences. Characterized as "preaching to us during

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the PT lessons," he persistently impacted and directed the whole class under his authority until they collectively marched under his guidance towards the local recruiting office and signed up. This exemplifies how he abused his position and leveraged his power to manipulate these youthful minds.

It seems that the soldiers are aware of Kantorek's manipulative tactics to persuade them to enlist. "Schoolmasters always seem to keep their sentiments handy in their waistcoat pockets; after all, they have to trot them out in lesson after lesson." This highlights how young men were targeted by those in power, who took advantage of their vulnerability and innocence to recruit soldiers for the war.

The portrayal of Kantorek in the text is highly subjective, with a strong focus on his attitude and influence as a school master. The image of him "shining at us through his spectacles

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emphasizes his significance. Additionally, the character of 'Josef Behm' evokes sympathy as he is described as a hesitant young man who ultimately succumbs to Kantorek's persuasion. This highlights Kantorek's power and ability to motivate others. The text further reveals that Behm was among the first casualties, adding to the emotional impact on the reader.

The extract provides a soldier's perspective, making it a reliable and trustworthy firsthand account. The tone is subjective and matter-of-fact, evoking sympathy from the reader. The narrative point of view adopts a conversational tone, making it less formal and enabling readers to empathize with the soldiers' emotions and comprehend the plot more effectively.

It is also a source of controversy, with the statement "I have always attempted to avoid working under short commanders - usually they are unpleasant individuals." This use of ironic comedy illustrates the stereotyping of individuals like Kantorek, emphasizing the existence of a social hierarchy and a clear division between authoritative figures and the rest of society, which was particularly evident in times of war.

The perspective in the text is both authentic and realistic, which makes it accurate. Additionally, Remarque employs a variety of sentence structures. Although some sentences are complex, they are frequently followed by shorter ones. This technique effectively showcases the soldiers' straightforward viewpoint, as exemplified by the phrase "But that never occurred to us for a moment at the time." Furthermore, the author includes the personal pronoun 'I' throughout the story, enhancing its personal and intimate nature for the reader.

Vera Brittain's fiancé has passed away, as depicted in 'Although You are not there'. This demonstrates how her optimism is shattered by grief. Similarly, when Josef Behm

died, the soldiers lost a fellow comrade. This gender-neutral division serves to emphasize the universal nature of loss, which affected individuals irrespective of their gender. It is an experience that resonated with everyone.

This passage and Vera Brittain's poem are separated by a temporal gap. Post-war compositions, such as Brittain's work, largely expressed anti-nationalistic sentiments. This is in stark contrast to the graphic descriptions of war brutality often found in contemporary war literature, an example of which can be seen in 'All Quiet On The Western Front'. Additionally, this piece bears resemblance to Sassoon's declaration with both texts bringing attention to how authority figures at the time coerced men into participating in war due to "political errors and insincerities". This underscores the misleading guidance received by young men during that era.

In addition to the visible link with R. C. Sherriff's Journeys End, All Quiet On The Western Front portrays a similar theme. The character of Raleigh, a young recruit, initially exhibits enthusiasm and excitement for war upon arriving at the trench line, likely influenced by propaganda and the censorship of information back home. However, the soldiers in All Quiet On The Western Front reflect on their own initial enthusiasm and how quickly it faded upon experiencing firsthand the horrors of war.

Written by a soldier, the extract feels authentic and intimate, enabling readers to connect with and comprehend the plot on a deeper level. The passage illustrates how men were compelled to participate in the war and highlights the manipulation of authority figures who resorted to emotional manipulation and took advantage of the naivety of the younger generation during that era.

Behm had no choice but to enroll

in the war. He did not want to join, but Kantorek compelled him to. Kantorek did not have any involvement in the war himself, yet he and many others believed that they were making the right decision. This highlights the widespread belief and practice of influencing and convincing men to enlist. It also emphasizes the central idea of war: survival of the fittest.

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