Final answer:
Paul Bäumer in All Quiet on the Western Front perceives their life as one of hardship and suffering due to the horrors of war (Option C), aligning with the disillusionment depicted by various authors in World War I literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
In All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul Bäumer characterizes the life of soldiers as one of hardship and suffering because of the horrors of war. He and his fellow soldiers endure the gruesome realities of trench warfare, which are a far cry from the glorious adventure they may have anticipated. The novel illustrates the devastating impact of World War I on the psyche of young soldiers and exposes the stark contrast between the romanticized notion of war and the brutal truth of combat.
Reflecting on the broader context of World War I literature, authors like Erich Maria Remarque, Ernest Hemingway, and others captured the disillusionment with war. They highlighted the absurdity of the conflict and underscored the soldiers' experiences of not just physical but also psychological torment. This dissonance between expectation and reality contributed to a generational crisis in how war was perceived and remembered.
In summary, Paul believes the soldiers are living a life of hardship and suffering, invalidated by the traumatic and senseless experiences of the battlefield. This view aligns with other contemporary literary portrayals of World War I, where writers shed light on the disillusionment and mental turmoil of the soldiers, contradicting earlier idyllic narratives of war.