All Quiet On The Western Front Mother Earth Essay

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better” (Albert Einstein). When you pay attention to Mother Earth, you will notice motherly nature of her. Mother Earth’s protective features serve as a symbol of comfort to those who suffer. Many people experience the destructive nature of war, but Mother Earth is always present to provide shelter to them. In the 1920 war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque, Paul enters World War I leaving his innocence behind. From the front to the tomb, Paul reminisces about Mother Earth’s comfort, protection, and love during the horrors of war.

The comfort that Mother Earth provides helps Paul return to the womb as he continually faces death. During the

carefree hours of Paul’s duty, he reminisces nature. “The grasses sway their tall spears, the white butterflies flutter around and float on the soft warm wind of the late summer” (9). The butterflies represent the purity and innocence of Paul’s childhood which makes him feel comfortable despite the harsh reality of World War I. Paul’s purity left his soul as soon as he stepped on the trench, so he looks at Mother Earth to be a child again in his mind. When Paul reminisces about his home, he thinks about the comfort he had as a child. “We sat beneath them on the bank of the stream and he let our feet hang in the bright, swift waters. The pure fragrance of the water and the melody of the wind in the poplars held our fancies” (120). During Paul’s young years, the river symbolized as a form of comfort and a place to relieve stress. He looks back on the simple life he had when he was younger, and relives the moment inside his mind. Mother Earth’s various forms of nature illustrate Paul’s idea of comfort in order to run away from war mentally.
Mother Earth provides protection for Paul during the terrors of war; she provides shelter he seeks in order to escape from the unfortunate reality of war.

During the shelling, Paul turns to Mother Earth because she is the only form of protection available. “When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother; he stifles his terror and his cries in her silence and security; she shelters him and releases him for ten seconds to live, to run, ten seconds of life; receives him again and often forever” (55). Mother Earth provides a shelter for Paul during the disastrous bombings. She acts as a family member, who is someone that protects him in any circumstance. He places his body in Mother Earth with fear of getting killed, but he trusts Mother Earth for protection. The geographical features of Mother Earth provides protection as well. “Earth with thy folds, and hollows, and holes, into which a man may fling himself and crouch down” (55). The holes and hollows assist Paul into escaping the evils of war. Paul dreads the bombings, but the strong connection him and Mother Earth helps him escape from the existence of war. Paul relies on Mother Earth only for protection, but he receives protection and

comfort.
Mother Earth symbolizes love during the horrific World War I because the story illustrates the love and innocence which Paul had during his young and current years.

When Paul was a child, he reminisces of how the poplar trees served as a form of love towards him. “Even as children we had a great love for them, they drew us vaguely thither, we played truant the whole day by them and listened to their rustling” (Remarque 120). The sounds of Mother Earth served as a pathway of the brotherly connection between Paul and his friends, which shows the love Paul reminisces about. When Paul gazes toward the trench, he notices two carefree butterflies which are representations of innocence and purity. “One morning two butterflies play in front of our trench. They are brimstone-butterflies, with red spots on their yellow wings. What can they be looking for here? There is not a plant nor a flower for miles. They settle on the teeth of a skull. The birds too are just as carefree, they have long since accustomed themselves to the war” (127-128). The loving nature between the two butterflies is parallel to the loving nature between Paul and Mother Earth because they rely on each other for help during hard times. Paul views Mother Earth as a guardian that will protect him no matter what obstacles his way. There are many forms of love within Mother Earth, and Paul relies on Mother Earth for a sense of

protection.
Mother Earth symbolizes comfort, protection, and love, so Paul reminisces about her during the apprehensions of war. Mother Earth’s comfort is shown through the rivers and butterflies because they bring recollections about the purity and innocence in his past which brings comfort to him. Protection provided by Mother Earth is a key part in allowing Paul to reminisce about her. Protection is shown through Mother Earth’s physical features, and how she is parallel to Paul’s family. The love from Mother Earth that Paul recollects about is illustrates through the peaceful sounds of Mother Earth and the carefree butterflies, it shows how powerful simple things mean for Paul because he is trying to flee the reality of war. The small details of Mother Earth allow people to look back on their lives while they are in the midst of danger. Danger revolves people everyday, but looking at Mother Earth through a meaningful aspect will help people understand the shield she provides.