It seems that the good always conquers the evil; abolishes it because it’s weaker, dirtier, fouler. But yet, there is beauty in evil. There is beauty in darkness, in selfishness, in immorality. Without the other half, there is no hope of seeing the difference. If there were no selfish humans in the world, there would be no gratefulness towards the giving. If there were no damp, emotionless darkness, there would be no exquisiteness in the souring light. Appreciating the good must come with appreciating the evil.
Remarque, author of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, writes in the beauty of opposites. Diving into the great depths of war, he makes sure to highlight the peacefulness of the trees or the soft glare of the sun to make the readers feel even more affected when they hear the harsh descriptions of the war. At one point he writes, “The earth is streaming with forces which pour into me through the soles of my feet. The night crackles electrically, the front thunders like a concert of drums.” (17). What’s going on in these few sentences is hidden behind the laced up words of soft imagery. Not once does Remarque tell exactly what is going on in but through the differences in opposites, he can portray a very strong and insightful point.
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