Battle The 54th Regiment Of Massachusetts example essay topic

War, Training& Incentives To Fight "Glory" depicts a period in the American Civil War emphasizing on the war modus operandi and troop movement techniques. The film focuses on the first real African-American regiment, 54th of Massachusetts, and the way these soldiers are trained and prepared to fight. Even though they acquire a new status as soon as they enlist for battle, they still face prejudices and are discriminated against by the white men. They " re not trusted to be able to fight with the same ardor and patriotism as the others and this puts them on a lower and inferior rank. Surprisingly enough, things change by the end of the movie, when Massachusetts 54 is engaged in battle and proves the efficiency and the courage of the black men who succeed in making a difference by changing the course of the war. Even though they were not victorious in the battle, they managed to show the world their value, and they brought an important victory for the entire mass of black people against the prejudices and misjudgments of their white neighbors.

Why do people fight? What do they gain from fighting? Once the slaves are liberated, they go and enlist en masse. This is surprising because one would tend to believe they would never look for other masters or commanders. That makes them special.

They want to fight for the North in the American Civil War feeling that this will give "pride and dignity to those who have known only degradation". The black people, who enlist in the 54th regiment want to step out from the crowd, want to make a difference and attach a goal to their lives. They fight because this gives them a sense of duty and importance. They " re motivated by more than patriotic feelings and idealism.

They see the war as an opportunity to show the world that "niggers" can fight just as well or better than white men. On the other hand, they " re also pushed by material considerations. The money they could get attracts them because their families could use it for making a living. Still, this doesn't stop them to rebel and give up the money they deserve when they feel they " re cheated and discriminated against. What is new about the fighting techniques? The entire idea of having a black regiment is new.

But more than that, the black people prove to be easier to command and to coordinate because most of them are uneducated, ignorant and used to being subordinated to their masters. This brings greater efficiency and speed in the training process. Harsh commands and strict order keep people submissive and willing to obey. The soldiers are divided into divisions and each division is assigned to a sergeant who is responsible for the training of the soldiers and their behavior.

By allowing a black man to occupy the rank of sergeant, the colonel of the regiment succeeds in unifying and motivating his men. They feel more confident to give all their best because they see that they " re appreciated, and they " re given a fair chance to advance. The sergeant inspires them and unites the men. The soldiers recognize and obey his authority more easily due to his wisdom and life experience. On the other hand, by having a black man in charge over the black soldiers triggers more cohesion and order.

Though the collective character seems to be the most important, certain types of characters get individualized. The two men from Boston who lead the regiment believe in their ideals and in their mission to prepare the soldiers for battle. The black sergeant gains individuality due to his character and the role he plays in the structure and organization of the regiment. Another important character is soldier Trip, a runaway slave that has always been unhappy with his condition and always asked for more. One could say that Trip symbolizes the spirit of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, as all the soldiers see in him an expression of their concealed desires.

The movie has a round structure. It begins with a scene, showing captain Robert Shaw leading to battle a group of white soldiers. It ends displaying the battle for the fort Wagner, where the same Robert Shaw, now colonel, leads in battle the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts. I dare say that the director did this with a specific purpose. He wanted to point out the contrast between the two situations, by emphasizing the courage, the strength and the madness with which the black soldiers fought.