War causes many losses, including countless human lives, property, money, and innocence. The loss of innocence unravels the very core of existence. Prior to World War I, Paul Baumer’s character enjoyed his youthful exuberance, yet as the war progresses, his naivete vanishes and he becomes hardened by the violent environment. The reality of the war exacerbates Paul’s soul as he changes from boy to man. In Erich Maria Remarque’s novel All Quiet …showed first 75 words of 497 total…

…showed last 75 words of 497 total…fight, his emotions hardened and he became scarred. Remarque uses symbolism, imagery, and irony to show the change that Paul goes through in his novel. All of these literary elements tie together to make the experiences Paul went through more apparent. Before the war Paul’s thoughts remain naïve and unrealistic, but now Paul knows the truth and becomes emotionally unbalanced due to the things he sees while fighting the brutality of the front.