Author(s): Ritu Dhaliwal and Somveer

Abstract: Erich Maria Remarque's A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1954) examines the themes of love and conflict within the setting of World War II. Through the story of Ernst Gräber, a German soldier on the Eastern Front, Remarque investigates war's psychological and emotional sufferings, juxtaposing the brutality of war with the fleeting, yet profound, moments of love. This novel serves as a vivid critique of war's inhuman effects, how it completely warps not only the identity but also the purpose and relationships. During such an all-encompassing war, the romance between Gräber and another German woman, Elizabeth, proved to be one of the few glimpses through the chaos and violence. Still, even this love is once again covered with the inevitable return to battle and death that ambled in their steps. Through a series of intimate and candid reflections, Remarque underscores the fragile nature of love in times of war. Portrayed as a form of hope, love is simultaneously a form of resistance against the horrors of war, yet it remains threatened by the instability and transience of wartime life. This raises questions whether human relationships are still possible in such a world governed by violence and survival. While also challenging the romanticism of war by displaying the internal and external battles of soldiers. In A Time to Love and a Time to Die, Remarque draws an insightful picture of the conflict between love and war in this paper by highlighting how deeply these themes are connected so that they give a profound commentary on human resilience and fragility in times of crisis.

DOI: 10.22271/27891607.2025.v5.i1a.251

Pages: 38-41 | Views: 106 | Downloads: 44

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