The Butterfly

The final scene of All Quiet On the Western Front is depicted with the main character, Paul reaching for a butterfly. This gesture eventually leads to the demise of Paul.
Now, this ending really ties everything together. Paul, who has lost everything, his old life, his friends, tries to reach out for a butterfly. The butterfly itself represents the ability to move on, to change. A butterfly's life is to reach the age where it is forcibly changed, going through several stages of transformations. Paul's life reflects this butterfly, turning from a young recruit into a hardened battle warrior. They have both been changed, learning life lessons and becoming more mature. Paul can now have something that he can share his experiences, although it can't talk back to him. Unfortunately, when Paul sees this, he is shot right before he can grab it.