WAR'S SCARS ON LAND AND SOUL: AN ECO-CRITICAL READING OF REMARQUE'S ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

This present work looks at the issue of what war does to the environment and to human mental health. The German literary work ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is used as a reference for the work. In German literature, themes often play out the country’s history, culture, and philosophy. Remarque’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is an anti-war novel that took place during World War I. It puts forth a great picture of war and what follows it. Through the use of vibrant imagery and very personal character experiences, the novel presents the great psychological damage done to soldiers. Also, it brings to light the long-term damage to the environment. The novel’s clear presentation of a war-torn landscape puts forth the connection between Eco harm and human trauma. It also plays out how the ruin of natural settings mirrors the inner struggles of the characters. In looking at this issue, the novel puts forward Remarque’s great critique of how war ruins not only individual lives but also the environment. This Eco critical perspective also gets readers to see the large-scale and, in many cases, ignored results of war on nature and collective human consciousness.