APNR is an allegory in much the same way that many war novels are. An allegory is an extended metaphor where fictional characters are used to express a belief. The belief being, how grotesque and twisted the Vietnam War was. Even though the war real and the characters act as real soldiers in a linear plot with traditional narrative, the themes follow an allegory.
Through tragic scenes of the armless Vietnamese children and shooting on innocent civilians, we see the journey that Willard takes. We see his struggle with PTSD and how it affects his journey. Willard‘s mission was to get rid of Kurtz. This symbolized the corruption of the U.S. government in secretly taking out their own side. Kurtz had gone insane from the war and organized his own group of followers. He did crazy things like surfing during fire and claiming to “love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Willard has his own issues and returning to do such a mission only brings back more experiences.
This movie also shows how unorganized the whole war was. Kurtz was a joke and so were many other soldiers. The government presented the idea that was to save innocent Vietnamese civilians. However, they really took pleasure in killing innocent people. It is ironic that Kurtz ends up becoming a Vietnamese spiritual leader to the Vietnamese when in the beginning of the film he took joy in shooting people to classical music. This movie also shows the control and manifest destiny power America tried to impose on Vietnam. The government thought people needed saving and destroyed their culture in the pursuit to impose their own ways.
The movie parallels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Same as the movie, it rotates around the theme of imperialism. Both have different methods used to oppress the civilians. Kurtz is a character that is the same in both literary works. He takes no shame in admitting he takes the ivory by force and violence. Yet, the overall idea is that slavery is necessary to create a new civilization. Madness and imperialism are two themes that are connected in both works. Willard’s PTSD is clear and so is Kurtz’s downfall through his madness. Overall, the film significantly represents many of the complicated layers of the war. It was harsh and controversial and had many negative effects.
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APNR is an allegory in much the same way that many war novels are. An allegory is an extended metaphor where fictional characters are used to express a belief. The belief being, how grotesque and twisted the Vietnam War was. Even though the war real and the characters act as real soldiers in a linear plot with traditional narrative, the themes follow an allegory.
ReplyDeleteThrough tragic scenes of the armless Vietnamese children and shooting on innocent civilians, we see the journey that Willard takes. We see his struggle with PTSD and how it affects his journey. Willard‘s mission was to get rid of Kurtz. This symbolized the corruption of the U.S. government in secretly taking out their own side. Kurtz had gone insane from the war and organized his own group of followers. He did crazy things like surfing during fire and claiming to “love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Willard has his own issues and returning to do such a mission only brings back more experiences.
Willard was an intense soldier who was very misplaced. He could not assimilate to life at home nor was he content to stay in Vietnam. He became programmed to kill and thus the reason the government sent him on such a mission. They almost seemed to choose him to give him something to do. He was a good fighter and accomplished his mission. But it did not offer him anymore peace or self affirmation.
This movie also shows how unorganized the whole war was. Kurtz was a joke and so were many other soldiers. The government presented the idea that was to save innocent Vietnamese civilians. However, they really took pleasure in killing innocent people. This movie also shows the control and manifest destiny power America tried to impose on Vietnam. The government thought people needed saving and destroyed their culture in the pursuit to impose their own ways.
The movie parallels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Same as the movie, it rotates around the theme of imperialism. Both have different methods used to oppress the civilians. Kurtz is a character that is the same in both literary works. He takes no shame in admitting he takes the ivory by force and violence. Yet, the overall idea is that slavery is necessary to create a new civilization. Madness and imperialism are two themes that are connected in both works. Willard’s PTSD is clear and so is Kurtz’s downfall through his madness.
Kurtz and Willard seem removed from the war itself by the end even though they are technically still in Vietnam. The side of American verses Vietnam has been forgotten and the story has shifted to that of imperialism and domination. Kurtz is killed by Willard and Willard is given the opportunity to replace him as leader. Yet, he steps away, signifying his continuing displacement and disgust at what the craziness of war can do.
Overall, the film significantly represents many of the complicated layers of the war. It was harsh and controversial and had many negative effects.