U05a1- Character, Dignity, and Self-Respect This paper will explain the character, dignity, and self-respect demonstrated in the movie “Glory” by Edward Zwick. The story is based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first formal unity of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African-American men as told from the point of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, its commanding officer during the American Civil War. Captain Robert Gould Shaw leads a company of Union soldiers from a Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in an attack on Confederate troops at the Battle of Antietam of September 17, 1862 (Davies, 2001). His regiment suffers many losses. Shaw is wounded and later loses consciousness. He is awakened by a black gravedigger name John Rawlins and is sent to a hospital. While at the hospital, Shaw is told that President Lincoln is on the verge of passing the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in rebel held territory. While on leave in Boston, Shaw is promotes to Colonel and is given command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. It is the first all-black regiment of the U.S. Army. The first character to show ethics based on Epictetus was Shaw’s friend and educated black man named Thomas Searles; Searles is the first black man to volunteer in the 54th Regiment. Epictetus believed that even though he could not control what occurred outside of himself, he could control how he responded (Sommers & Sommers, 2013). The fact that Thomas volunteered to join showed his courage and dignity knowing he would be fighting for a good cause. At the military camp, the company is forced to endure the unyielding and strict discipline of Sergeant Major Mulcahy. Sergeant Major Mulcahy displays Aristotle’s view on ethics by his handling of the soldiers. At first, Shaw thinks Mulcahy is being too harsh on the men when he sees the treatment of Shaw’s friend Thomas, however, Sergeant Major Mulcahy states that he believes that Thomas has a lot of growing up to do to be ready to fight. Mulcahy shows Aristotle’s view by maintaining discipline. Aristotle believed each person is the creator of their own characters (Rachels & Rachels, 2013). Colonel Shaw demonstrates Epictetus values also when he learns the unit is to be only used for manual labor and as such is not an immediate concern in obtaining new shoes and socks for his troops. Shaw addresses this immediately by threatening to give word on all the looting that has been going on and also writes a letter to the governor urging to persuade President Lincoln to allow his men to fight in battle. Before the 54th Infantry goes to their first battle, the men get together to sign Christian hymns and pray that they be blessed and looked over by God. The men show St. Augustine’s theory on Christian theology when they form a bond and show their pride. St. Augustine believed that no one can take the God-given concept of self-worth from us (Sommers & Sommers, 2013). The troop always portrayed personal self-control as they always obeyed the orders even when being drilled by Sergeant Major Mulcahy as the sergeant tries to mold them into the courageous group they later become. The final moment that shows the most courageous, dignified, self-respected men is when Colonel Shaw volunteers his 54th Regiment to lead the charge on Ft. Wagner. Shaw attempts to urge the men forward in battle but is shot several times and killed. Stunned, the soldiers stay where they are until one of the soldiers name Trip lifts up the flag and rallies the soldiers to continue on. He is shot several times while doing so, but holds up the flag until last breath. Forbes, the second in command, takes charge of the regiment and they are able to break through the fort’s outer defenses, but find themselves greatly out-numbered once they are inside. The morning after the battle, the beach is covered with bodies as the Confederate flag is raised over the fort. The closing shows that Ft. Wagner was never taken by union forces, however, the sacrifice of the 54th, which lost nearly half its men in battle, was not in vain, as their bravery inspired the Union to recruit more black men for combat.

References

Davies, P. (2001). American civil war. Harpenden, GBR: Pocket Essentials.

Rachels, J.,& Rachels, S.(2012).The elements of moral philosophy (7th ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9780078038242

Sommers, C., & Sommers, F. (2013). Vice and virtue in everyday life: Introductory readings in ethics (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth