Comparative Essay on "All quiet on the Western Front" and "Saving Private Ryan".

Through written techniques and filmic techniques, both Remarque and Spielberg show that the soldiers are changed forever by the experience of war, became like beasts, and had a disconnection from home and ordinary life. During Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg shows that war changes soldiers into “beasts” and they lose their humanity. This is portrayed in the scene where the German soldiers are heading towards the bridge and some of the soldiers are forced to use hand to hand combat – its kill or be killed in that situation. Nevertheless Remarque shows that the soldiers become like beasts in All Quiet on the Western Front when Paul explains how in the thick of battle the soldiers have “become like wild beasts…as Death is hunting [them] down” and in their desire to save themselves they are filled with “ferocity” and turned into “God only knows what devils”. Also in All Quiet on the Western Front, disconnection from home and ordinary life is present in the novel. Remarque portrays this when the soldiers are sitting around talking amongst themselves and Müller asks albert “what [he] would do if it were suddenly peace time again?” but there is a certain air of unreality about the possibility of achieving these dreams. In comparison Spielberg shows this in the scene where everyone’s talking about what they did before the war and miller reveals that he was a teacher, but Miller’s job at home as a teacher is far removed from his captain’s role in the war.

Both Remarque and Spielberg show through the use of techniques, that the soldiers formed bonds of comradeship and friendships among each other. In All Quiet on the Western Front, Remarque shows that the soldiers form close bonds that gave meaning to a futile and terrible experience. Kat and Paul share a goose and this scene captures the close bond of soldiers, “We don’t talk much, but I believe we have a more complete communion with one another than even lovers have…we are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death”. Similarly Spielberg shows the bonds of friendship and comradeship in Saving Private Ryan. After the scen when Ryan is found in the village, Miller approaches him and tells him he is going home. Ryan refuses to go home and insists on staying with his comrades. In Saving Private Ryan, in the scene where the soldiers are in the church, they are making anecdotes and exchanging anecdotes about home. This is a comfort for them in the chaos of war.

So through the use of literary techniques and filmic techniques both Steven Spielberg and Erich Maria Remarque show that in the war there is a loss of innocence, ideals and youth amongst the soldiers, how they form bonds of friendship and comradeship in a somewhat chaotic environment and just depict the true horror and nature of war.