The world of the fallen and the survivors in the novels of Erich Maria Remarque "All quiet on the western front" and "Black obelisk"

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das Thema: „Die Welt der Gefallenen und der Überlebenden: Erich Maria Remarques Im Westen nichts Neues und Der schwarze Obelisk“ einer Untersuchung unterzogen. Den Kern dieser Arbeit bildet eine Analyse der Zustände, in denen junge, von den Schulbänken an die Front versetze Soldaten im Ersten Weltkrieg sich befanden und wie stark die Teilnahme an dem Kriegsfeld die spätere Wiederaufnahme in die Gesellschaft schwer bzw. unmöglich gemacht hat. . Mit der vorliegenden Analyse möchte ich den Lesern und Leserinnen Bausteine für eine eingehende Interpretation beider Werke zur Verfügung stellen sowie soziale und geschichtliche Aspekte erläutern.

The content of the following thesis entitled "The World of the fallen and the survivors in the novels of Erich Maria Remarque" is an analysis of two works by the author of "All quiet on the western front" and "Black Obelisk". Action of the first novel, takes place during The First World War, describes character’s memories from a trench, also contains memories of the time of peace. The characters are young people, often students, called to the army. This novel is a moving picture of the young generation that experienced the trauma of war and psychological devastation. The author, whose pacifist novel "On the Western Front" has brought international fame and recognition, and shows the absurdity of war nightmare. Its destructive power- it not only takes lives, but also human dignity. The character of the second novel, "Black Obelisk" struggle to preserve morality and dignity remains in the great inflation in 1923. The character, Ludwig Bodmer, whose younger years had passed in the trenches , is looking on his own identity, purpose and meaning in life at those difficult times of inflation. The novel shows the tragic fate of contemporary society, where money is just a piece of paper, and every day struggle to stay on the surface. This thesis compares the two novels in terms of content and formality, as well as attempt to answer the question how far the experience of war invades the psyche of young people, preventing them from returning to normal life.