Blog eight- LdT

An allegory is a form of a long metaphor in which objects, persons and actions in a narrative are connect with the meanings that lie outside the narrative. The film Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier (Redux) by Coppola is an allegory for the Vietnam War because throughout the movie there is a wealth of symbolism, which is used to represent the war.

One symbol that can be seen throughout the movie is the idea of the loss of innocence. Colonel Kurtz can be seen as representing Americas’ loss of innocence. Kurtz is an American soldier who is seen as leading a group of Vietnamese fighters. Benjamin Willard is on a mission to take down Kurtz. When Willard finally does find Kurtz he is not able to kill Kurtz right away. This is because Willard does not really understand why he has to kill another American, but because he was told to do so, he has to do it. This also goes along with another symbol that is seen throughout the movie, the reason America was fighting in this war.

Another analogy that is seen throughout the movie is, one that is seen in many war stories and war literature, is the idea of war just being hell. The viewer sees this in Apocalypse Now because throughout the movie we hear about entering or going or being in hell. Colby is sent on the same mission, as Willard to assassinate Kurtz but Colby is not ale to handle the existence and goes insane. In a letter to his wife he talks about how she should move on and forget about him. Saying that he is not going to be able to come home, home is crossed out and he writes back. The idea of his home still being the same when he gets back is gone. His life is becoming the War. Many soldiers were holding on to their home life to get through the war, thinking it would be the same when they get back. But Colby, who is considered to be going insane, actually understands the wretchedness of the war versus the men who are killing ruthlessly in order to get back home.

Both the Americans and the French want to have control over the land and the people. Kurtz also goes after achieving this, and when he does gain control over the Vietnamese people and beings leading them, he does not feel the satisfaction that he was hoping he would achieve. When Willard is seen as the new leader, he again cannot handle the pressure that is put on him and has to leave. The United States involvement with Vietnam lacked, among other things, respect for the land and people. The United States went in very naively, thinking that it would be a fast war. With such a lack of respect, they did not understand what the country of Vietnam was going to bring. The soldiers were not fighting for democracy, they were fighting to survive and to pass the time. The viewer is shown scenes were there is ruthless and unneeded killing. Killing where villages are wiped out in order for the soldiers to ride a few waves.