The beauty of food is significant because of the soldiers’ attitude and utter appreciation of any sort of provision. Many times these soldiers are given small portions of bread and sausage with the possible added luxury of receiving cigarettes and alcohol. Under normal circumstances, this could never be considered as a first-class meal for most people, and yet these soldiers see it as nothing but. They dev

Women, above all, offer beauty in a way that even food and nature are incapable of. When Kat and Paul pass by a colored poster of a beautiful girl, they are unable to take their eyes off her, for they can “hardly credit that such things still exist.” Taking in every bit of detail from her “red lips and slender legs” to the bit of “dirt under her nails,” the girl is a complete wonder to the two comrades. It has been so many years since they’ve been able to see something so full of “happiness, beauty and joy,” and this image can’t help but put them at peace. This girl gives them a reason to once again care about their appearance, a characteristic that had been lost in their years of fighting. At once the need to be cleansed sends Kat, Paul and their fellow companions into a frenzy. White trousers, shirts and socks are sought out, and the tearing of the “white man with the white trousers” off the poster gives them much satisfaction. Soon afterwards, Paul and his companions meet three young French girls and are invited to come to their house. The men go to all lengths to be able to meet with these beautiful girls. They cross the “forbidden bank,” stow bread, cigarettes and liver-sausages inside their boots for presents, and even give their limited supply of rum and punch to Tjaden to incapacitate him, because there are not enough girls for everyone. Even while the pretty brunette girl is talking to Paul, he cannot help but think about the “soldier’s brothels,” much against his will. It is not until he feels the girl’s hands and lips that Paul is able to believe that he will be free of such unwanted thoughts. The greatest beauty of all is the love and sensual need of the soldiers prompted by womanly beauty.

Remarque then takes this a step farther by comparing nature to a place of comfort and reliability giving nature all the attributes of a mother. What could be more reassuring than a mother who folds, bends and curves to shield a child from any harm? When a soldier “presses himself upon her, and buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend.” A soldier’s terror and cries are stifled because of her silence, a silence that is consoling and one that provides the only shelter that exists. “Earth!-Earth!-Earth!” praises its ability to protect and provide hope to the soldiers. Even “in the spasm of terror, the bellowing

Some topics in this essay:
Front Paul, Kat Paul, Western Front, , Maria Remarque, quiet western front, Quiet Western, western front, quiet western, food nature, beauty food, kat paul, Erich Maria, beauty food nature, everyday beauty, fear death, erich maria, remarque takes, food nature women, flip pancakes,