Mary Kate Curry: Thin Red Line

The question of loyalty dominates much of this film—both the loyalty required by a solider towards his commanding officer, as well as the fidelity between man and wife. The former definitely holds a parallel to the story of Arjuna. Arjuna is torn between his ethics and his duty; unable to force himself to kill his family members, he turns to Krishna for guidance. Krishna admonishes him for shirking his duty, though it will pain Arjuna in the short term. This parallels the sub-story that exists in Thin Red Line between Staros and his commanding officer Tall. Staros refuses to follow orders from Tall that he believes will only lead to the senseless slaughter of his men. Tall, furious that Staros remains loyal to his men but refuses to follow orders, relieves Staros of his command (though he implicitly admits Staros was right by recommending him to JAG). Staros is unable to put aside his compassion for his men in deference to his fealty towards his commanding officer. Who is right? Is Tall, (or Krishna), correct in demanding obedience as a way to maintain order? Or is the compassion of Staros necessary in order to keep his men human?

But, the most important theme involves the relationship between Welsh and Witt. Throughout the film the two are engaged in a dialogue about truth and worth, with Witt asking “…this great evil, where’s it come from?” On what hand, Welsh believes there is nothing beyond this world; that the best a man can do for himself is to create an island and insulate himself. This is a response to what Welsh has witnessed in the Pacific; soldiers are being brutally killed for no reason. Welsh searches for nothing, because he has resigned himself to the senselessness he perceives. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Witt is searching throughout the film for a meaning to what he has experienced; desperately seeking the calm that he saw in his dying mother that allowed her to accept death peacefully. Ultimately, Witt comes to realize that the self-sacrifice is what allows one to cease viewing death as something worthy of fear. The poison of war has rotted Welsh’s view of the world, but it has given Witt the chance to find a reason and a way to redemption. A faceless soldier shouts “…who is to decide who is going die and who is going to live?” and though that question remains unanswered, through Witt one realizes that it is up to one’s own self how one chooses to face their death.

The taking of the Japanese bunker might be the most haunting scene of the film, The desperation of the Americans is matched by the wretchedness of the Japanese, who previously had been only faceless bullets to the audience. The screaming and fear of the Japanese makes one even more aware of the brutality and cold viciousness of war; both sides involves terror and unknowing.