In the movie The General Johnnie Gray, a simple engineer,tries to win the heart of his girlfriend by enlisting in the army. Although he is refused, he eventually takes on a group of Northern soldiers who hijack his train. What does this movie tell us about heroism?
I think this movie portrays heroism in a different way then most people would think. It's both a comedy and action film which helps make Johnnie Gray the hero that in the beginning would not be expected since he wasn't able to enlist in the army. It shows that heroism isn't always going to come from the guy who has all the power and connections to (in this case) impress the girl. Johnnie Gray became a hero by having amazing luck throughout the entire film and also good instinct which made him a unique hero in The General.
Yeah, I agree. This clearly isn't a serious film, instead it relies on slapstick comedy. If anything the "hero" of the movie is inept and only relies on dumb luck to make it by and find his girlfriend. Any messages about heroism are clearly not to be taken seriously or extrapolated out to heroism as a whole
However, you could also argue that regardless of the fact that he may very well be the luckiest man evaaaaaar... he still had the courage to chase down a group of soldiers alone. I agree that with Sarah and Mike that he's not really a hero to be taken seriously, but what can be taken from it is that he took the risk and tried. He simply didn't give up when the group of soldiers left and having the courage to try and prove himself is alternate definition of a hero.
He also just could have been too dumb to realize that he was chasing a group of Union soldiers into the heart of the North. Through out the movie Johnny was portrayed as unintelligent and lucky. The fact that he followed the stolen train could perhaps make him a hero, but also maybe just a moron who ended up getting lucky.
He acted completely on impulse. There was no thought process involved in deciding to chase the group of soldiers. I agree with Iris, he acted in a completely irrational way so courage wasn't necessarily needed.
yes both of you may be right, but even after he distinctly understood his situation when he saw the union solidiers on the bridge above him, he still managed to get inside the house that the union soldiers had occupied and saved the girl.
I'm making my other comment longer... He got into the house, again, by luck. He just so happened to end up at the exact house that the Union generals were in and somehow ended up under the exact table that he the plans were being made on. He didn't plan on any of it. So because he ended up in that house had nothing to do with his heroism but rather his sheer luck. I would agree that he was hero if has a pre-notion of stealing the Union's plan and then alerting the Confederate generals. However, he made it up along the way and took what he was given.
I do not think that he can be considered a hero in the traditional sense of the word. In order to be a hero, one must be courageous and consciously take risks with the expectation of a certain outcome. Johnnie acts impulsively and without thinking. In order to be a hero it is necessary that someone sets aside fear and apprehension. I am walking a very fine line. I do not want to say that his actions were not commendable or worthwhile. He certainly saved the day and rescued the girl, but he did not intend to and did not consciously risk his wellbeing in order to do so. I feel a hero must, in some way, intend to be a hero. Individuals cannot be made a hero. They must consciously decided to be a hero and have the appropriate circumstances to become one. A hero must have noble qualities that are worthy of praise beyond plain dumb luck.
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ReplyDeleteI think this movie portrays heroism in a different way then most people would think. It's both a comedy and action film which helps make Johnnie Gray the hero that in the beginning would not be expected since he wasn't able to enlist in the army. It shows that heroism isn't always going to come from the guy who has all the power and connections to (in this case) impress the girl. Johnnie Gray became a hero by having amazing luck throughout the entire film and also good instinct which made him a unique hero in The General.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree. This clearly isn't a serious film, instead it relies on slapstick comedy. If anything the "hero" of the movie is inept and only relies on dumb luck to make it by and find his girlfriend. Any messages about heroism are clearly not to be taken seriously or extrapolated out to heroism as a whole
ReplyDeleteHowever, you could also argue that regardless of the fact that he may very well be the luckiest man evaaaaaar... he still had the courage to chase down a group of soldiers alone. I agree that with Sarah and Mike that he's not really a hero to be taken seriously, but what can be taken from it is that he took the risk and tried. He simply didn't give up when the group of soldiers left and having the courage to try and prove himself is alternate definition of a hero.
ReplyDeleteHe also just could have been too dumb to realize that he was chasing a group of Union soldiers into the heart of the North. Through out the movie Johnny was portrayed as unintelligent and lucky. The fact that he followed the stolen train could perhaps make him a hero, but also maybe just a moron who ended up getting lucky.
ReplyDeleteHe acted completely on impulse. There was no thought process involved in deciding to chase the group of soldiers. I agree with Iris, he acted in a completely irrational way so courage wasn't necessarily needed.
ReplyDeleteyes both of you may be right, but even after he distinctly understood his situation when he saw the union solidiers on the bridge above him, he still managed to get inside the house that the union soldiers had occupied and saved the girl.
ReplyDeleteI'm making my other comment longer... He got into the house, again, by luck. He just so happened to end up at the exact house that the Union generals were in and somehow ended up under the exact table that he the plans were being made on. He didn't plan on any of it. So because he ended up in that house had nothing to do with his heroism but rather his sheer luck. I would agree that he was hero if has a pre-notion of stealing the Union's plan and then alerting the Confederate generals. However, he made it up along the way and took what he was given.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that he can be considered a hero in the traditional sense of the word. In order to be a hero, one must be courageous and consciously take risks with the expectation of a certain outcome. Johnnie acts impulsively and without thinking. In order to be a hero it is necessary that someone sets aside fear and apprehension. I am walking a very fine line. I do not want to say that his actions were not commendable or worthwhile. He certainly saved the day and rescued the girl, but he did not intend to and did not consciously risk his wellbeing in order to do so. I feel a hero must, in some way, intend to be a hero. Individuals cannot be made a hero. They must consciously decided to be a hero and have the appropriate circumstances to become one. A hero must have noble qualities that are worthy of praise beyond plain dumb luck.
ReplyDelete