Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan

Identify and discuss all of the motifs, themes, and symbols from The Red Badge of Courage as they are used in the film Saving Private Ryan. Include any additional symbols noted in the film. For example, what is the significance of the letter?Be specific and support your examples effectively.

Light vs Dark : This one is the hardest for me to think about. The only times I really think about is the night and day. But the daytime seems dark in a way of evil. Thats when the killing and fighting occurs. But at night the soldiers write letters home, tell stories, and reflect on the past, and then of course think about family and being home again.

Noise vs Silence : The first time this comes into play is when they get off the boats at the very beginning and start to get onto the beach. Tom Hanks goes into a world of his own. Almost like he can't comprehend all the tragedity surrounding him. He is looking around and sees soldiers crying, scared, dying, dead, losing limbs, and fighting. It was like words couldn't describe the scene his eyes were seeing. This happened twice throughout the movie when everything went completely silent during a battle and he was in his own world. When Wade dies it is also silence. Everyone is at a lose for words so nobody says a word.

Clean vs Dirty : The things that suck out to me were when the soldier is eating the dirty apples. Showing they are so hungry they are desperate to eat anything. Also pretty striking how the medical supplies are used. None of that stuff could be too clean in those conditions. But they do what they can with what they have.

Youth vs Maturity : Could tell for sure was was experienced or not in this movie. The captain was experienced and you could tell by the respect everyone gave him. He knew how to win the battles and what to do in difficult situations. I really like the sharp shooter who was mature and experienc. He was calm but focused. I REALLY disliked the 2nd translator. He was very young and inexperienced! If he wouldn't have been being such a chicken his 2 men wouldn't have died. I could barely watch that because I was so mad!

Dead Soldiers : There were a ton of dead soldier that I could make a lot of references to. But I thought the most important were Caparzo who died after trying to get that child. It showed weakness by going for the kid even though he was being ordered not to. Then Wade who was shot while fighting. The biggest death was the captain Tom Hanks. He did so much for those men and was such a great leader. It was be really touching to have a man like him.. to have the last thing he say be to you.. and say you earned it. I can't even decribe what the meant to private ryan. It was a great moment and extremely touching.

Flag : The flag is flying at the cemetery at the beginning and end of the movie.. It started with the flag and that showed me thats what the whole movie would be about was the respect for it and the united states. Then ending the flag flying.. I thought it was great showing how everything we is representing ourselves and our country just like the the entirety of the movie was saluting our county and everything we believe in.

Courage: The entire movie was about the courage of all the men fighting for their country. The men weren't scared to fight even though it could cost them their lives.The sharp shooting showed his courage when he steps up and is confident is in shot. Ryan is extremely courageous when he is allowed to leave and go home to safety but tells them no these are my brothers now I will stay and fight with them. That really showed me the guts he had. And the whole time men are seeing their friends die.. but they still stay and fight until they get the job done. The movies makes the men look mature and brave.

Manhood : This answer is pretty much the same as my maturity answer. Most of the men are shown being men and brave. But then some you can see hiding, and scared, and back to the translator you oculd tell he wans't grown up and not a man yet. Or else he would have shot the man who killed his friends and soldiers b4 he got to them. But for the most part I was very impressed with how the men were portrayed.

Self- Preservation : Again back to the dang translator... He knew his friends were going to die.. but what did he do 1st he let them go up there without warning his men.. 2nd he sat on the stairs like a chicken and let his friends die.. wow blows my mind.. Then the soldier form Boston he was going to walk out on his men.. But then ended staying. And the complete opposite was Private Ryan who stuck around when he had a free ride to go home. All the soldier who died weren't worreid aobut self preservation they were fighting bravely for their country and not for themselves.

Disreguard for human life : I really wished they would have killed that POW on the spot! But the dang inexperiencd translator butted in and convinced the captian to not kill him. HATE HIM! But the US soldiers do kill a couple men who surrendered earlier on he movie at that point i felt a little bad.. But I wouldn't have felt bad about killin the guy who shot Wade..