All Quiet on the Western Front Project: Paul Baumer Character Analysis

Paul Baumer is the central character of the book, All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque. Paul Baumer is also the narrator of the novel. Through his narration, he helps us to understand what life was like during the First World War. Paul Baumer is against war. He also changes throughout the novel. “...it has transformed us into unthinking animals in order to give us the weapon of instinct-it has reinforced us with dullness, so that we do not go into pieces before the horror, which would over-whelm us if we had clear, conscious thought.” (273-274) The war causes Paul Baumer to stop thinking and base his actions on his instincts. When he get the privilege to go back and visit his family and his old life, he even starts to struggle. Paul Baumer is a central, changing character in the book All Quiet on the Western Front. His emotions lead us and introduces us to the life style during the First World War.