Philosophical Ruminations

There is an interesting contrast shown between Staros and Tall as humanistic and materialistic; and Welsh and Witt as spiritual and temporal.

Staros is depicted as compassionate, refusing a direct order from Tall in order to save the lives of men. This humanistic approach to life stands in direct opposition to the more materialistic and ambitious perspective adopted by Tall, who sees the war as his one and only opportunity to carve a political career and name for himself.

While Staros views humans as subjects and deserving of rights, Tall sees them as objects and disposable. We can argue that Tall sees the end (obtaining the ridge) as justifying the mean (death of soldiers), or that he has a greater grasp of the bigger picture, but his actions throughout the film depict him as concerned with his own ambitions rather than the well-being of those around him.

His materialism is accentuated consistently throughout the film. He tells Bell and Gaff that they will be rewarded with various medals and badges, symbols that offer no purpose. We see here that Tall's perspective is not the perspective of those around him, which is of course the main diegesis of the film (everyone has their own worldview).

Witt is shown as spiritual, blending in with nature. There is a degree of transcendentalism in his actions. He absorbs nature, appreciating its beauty, extending this notion to everything, including the Japanese. There is a somber idealism present in his mannerisms. His perception of the world does not reflect reality. While he sees the beauty of the world, his myopia dismisses the cruelty present in the moment. To put it simply, he is in the world, but not of it.

We see this stark disparity between Witt and Welsh. Welsh maintains an objective worldview, accepting the cruelty of the war and the world at large. While Witt's worldview is alien to him, he accepts the beauty in it, which is why he has an affinity towards him. He shows him mercy when he goes AWOL and is shown as emotionally distraught at his death.

While each character in the film has their own worldview, the commonality of fear and mortality salience is palpable. The duality of nature reflects the duality of man.

Throughout all of this, the film posits an interesting question that is accentuated through Witt. We see that materialism, while providing an element of comfort, does not enrich one's life. Witt views the attachment to life as materialistic in nature. While he comforts those dying before him, he does not view their deaths as intrinsically negative, but as an organic process. Humans live and breath, then they die and stop breathing. We can view Witt's actions towards the end as heroic, but the scene highlights the detachment from the material, as his death underscores not only the eschewal of the material comforts of life, but the comfort of life itself. Witt's death gives life to his platoon, shining light on the meditative nature of destruction and creation.