... The symbolism of "brokenness" war creates on as soldier is seen when Paul swallows a "bit of gas" allowing him leave time. During his leave time Paul sits in a "little garden" hearing information about the Armistice and how close it is. Paul believes it is true, and unlike a normal emotional reaction of happiness Paul simply says, "then we will go home." Proving the damaging of "brokenness" war creates on Paul by taking away his emotional reaction of happiness. Paul becomes "weary" and "burnt out" by the affects war has placed on him. The sentences become run-ons with numerous dashes which can be compared to the lose Paul has endured. The thoughts of Paul become choppy and "burnt out." New thoughts randomly come into Paul's mind making it hard to stick to one thought. This can be represented on a soldier, causing them to become unsure about [their] life and the surroundings of life around them. Eventually becoming "superfluous." Furthermore, the blank part of the page at the end of the passage Remarque presents, gives the idea of Paul's emptiness he has by letting him to trail into a life of nothingness. However, words soon appear on the next page and are placed at the bottom indicating the "fall" to the ground Paul has taken. In the last two paragraphs of the novel is not written in first person (told by Paul0 but rather in third person giving the effect that Paul was just another soldier who has "fallen." With no real emotion about the "fall", Paul seemed to know the end was near, being "calm" as though "almost glad the end had come." The structure Remarque chose to use can show the damages war creates for a soldier, making them "weary" and "burnt out" from their life and life itself. Remarque displays the irony of damage war places on a soldier. A perfect example of irony is as leaves "fall" in autumn so do soldiers and their mind set of living. Paul's death is ironic because he beats all the odds war has thrown at him making him the "last of the seven" which gives hope to life. However, Remarque proves war damages soldiers life by allowing Paul to die. ...
