The Last Samurai Idea Of Honor example essay topic

The idea of honor is different to many people. The dictionary defines honor as, That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness; specifically, in men, integrity; uprightness; trustworthiness; in women, purity; chastity. [1913 Webster]. However in the film The Last Samurai, the idea of honor seems to differ between the different people in each culture. The Americans equate honor with how many battles have been won. Not necessarily how the battles are won.

We are introduced to the idea of American culture changing the Japanese way by first being shown the Japanese buying advanced weaponry from the Americans. Nathan Algren, played by Tom Cruise was revered with utmost respect for his victories in the civil war and against the Indians. However through out those battles many innocent people were killed. These facts however did not stop the American government from awarding him many medals of Honor, and thus leading to his recruitment by the Japanese emperor to train his armies. No medals however could stop the nightmares that Algren would have every night as he replayed the dishonorable things he had done in past battles. The Japanese people were attempting to begin adapting to a western style of life.

The government tried to take the samurai way of life out of their people. Some who believed that technology and firepower outweighed honor joined the army to be trained in American style battle. Japan believed that in order to succeed in the modern world they themselves needed to modernize. The towns began to change, people began dressing differently. Out went the kimonos and in came the suits and top hats. Another look at the swing in the idea of honor takes place the streets of Tokyo.

Japanese soldiers confront a samurai for caring weapons in the street. When asked to remove his swords the samurai does not comply, the soldiers answer to this by forcefully placing the warrior on his knees and cutting off his 'top knot'. The cutting of a samurai's topknot is a dishonoring action, and yet the Japanese soldiers believe that by upholding the law that they themselves are the honorable ones. The samurai warriors value honor above all, even life itself. The samurai seem to tie honor to many different religious beliefs such as karma, destiny and faith, although they believe that perfection can only be found in death.

The idea of samurai honor comes from the willingness to die for a cause. The samurai believe that the loss of a battle is more shameful than die ing in the heat of battle. The samurai believed it to be dishonorable to use firearms, they used traditional weaponry in battle such as swords and bow and arrow. The samurai refused to give up their swords because to them the sword represented their ancestors.

To them the sword was an extension of their own soul. Algren leads the Japanese army into battle with the samurai too early in their training. The army gets over run by the more disciplined and better-trained samurai. Algren finds himself surrounded by samurai and fights them off as best he can, however he is eventually defeated. As a samurai warrior steps up to Algren to kill him, Algren grabs a spear to his right and stabs the samurai. The samurai leader views Algren as a worthy opponent and takes him captive.

The samurai see the death of their fallen warrior as a good death because he died in battle. Towards the end of the movie we begin to see a real change in Tom Cruise's character. He has stopped drinking and feeling bad for himself. During his time in the samurai camp he has learned to discipline his mind and body.

Algren begins to understand the ideas of the people he was brought here to destroy. The samurai dedicate their entire lives to performing tasks to the best of their abilities. This type of dedication amazes Algren, and he does not understand why the Japanese are so ready to abandon their principles the way that they are doing so. The movie ends in an all out battle between the new western ideas, and old eastern tradition. This is shown by the remaining samurai riding into a battle that they know they cannot win. As a wall of bullets in their last advance mows down the samurai we see that the idea of honor has been replaced by technology.

However when there are only two samurai left on the battlefield, Algren and Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) the gunfire stops. Katsumoto decides to take his own life before die ing from the dishonorable bullets that riddled his body. With his dying breath Katsumoto tells Algren that he has finally achieved the perfection that he has been searching for his whole life. While this is happening the soldiers manning the weapons that have just ended a part of their nation's history bow in respect for a fallen warrior, and the end of an era. The western concepts of honor varied greatly from the eastern ideas.

However at the end of the film, the emperor decides that to become a strong an unified Japan, they must learn from the western ideas. This does not mean that the Japanese people should forget where they came from, and their own code of honor. It is a gently mixing of the two civilizations ideas that end up being the best solution.