Reflection of the Movie ‘Glory’
Glory is a 1989 American film centered on Colonel Robert Shaw’s personal letters in the course of the Civil War. During the Civil War, the nation was divided into the Confederacy and the Union as a result of the diverse perceptions of slavery. All through this era, whites, as well as blacks, faced difficult moments in terms of coexistence, although some blacks, such as Thomas, were typically free. The latter was also similar in the case of the military. After Robert Shaw returned from the war, he was requested to take the office of Colonel under the first black regiment. At that time, it appeared ridiculous to have black soldiers in the military.
All through the high standing army officers, finding one who believes in Robert Shaw and his men is quite difficult. The military officers see the troops jokingly, although they might be among the most passionate military men at that time. In addition, the men are deprived of basic items, including shoes, as well as being forced to march barefoot with their blistered feet (Glatthar 478). The men only receive the proper clothing after the Colonel takes the step of demanding for them himself.
The movie effectively depicts the struggles of the military men as they dealt with the men of color, starting with their treatment along with training. The military men are also unsure of how to punish Denzel Washington when he abandoned Robert. The uncertainty also transcends to their training since, at the onset, they were certain the men would never see war. At that time, the entire universe was tackling diversity, along with how to deal with it in daily life. The latter was the case even in the military (Glatthar 479). In as much as the colored troop was ready and eager to go to battle, they were disregarded by the high standing officials, deprived of necessary items, and faced difficult times with training and discipline as a result of the society’s beliefs and color differences.
The film utilizes a prevalent technique through the genre of historical fiction displayed by Toplin. The technique develops a few compound characters worth following, which gives the audience a simplified yet fictionalized sample of what might have transpired during the ancient era. By following characters such as Thomas Searles, a well-read and free man, Rawlins, a preachy father-figure, Trip, an angry run-away and Sharts, a sharpshooting sturrer, the audience sees as well as experiences the conflicts of the Civil War an almost tangible way. Each of the aforementioned main characters, evolves. Trip represents an epitome of the evolution at the night’s campfire prior to the Ft. Wagner assault, where he recognizes the 54th’s importance as the as the family he ever knew (Glatthar 480). The viewer identifies that Trip found self-respect as well as earned respect from the people he valued. He is as such a transformed man in spite of the result of the subsequent battle.
The film gets right most of the critical aspects of the story of the 54th. Some of these significant aspects include demeaning treatment of African American soldiers in relation to duty and pay, open hostility to the recruitment of black soldiers by several white soldiers of the Union as well as the significance of service in the military to the black’s sense of manhood. The film regularly perfectly aligns with chronological proof. For instance, the 54th deployment to Beaufort, which highlights slavery (Glatthar 482). Generally, the film provides a minority perception of the Civil War as an influential supplemental tool. It gives an emotional association with principal war issues.