The movie "Glory" was actually pretty predictable and when I read the plot, I assumed that it would be the standard story of soldiers who found a way to become heroes during a time of crisis. I was a bit shocked when I saw how distantly Col. Shaw was treating his men at the beginning. Immediately, I thought that he shouldn't have taken up this job if he was going to be this brutal. Personally, I believe that Col. Shaw should have been more compassionate towards his regiment and that he should have made an effort to familiarize with them and their backgrounds sooner. The fact that Shaw was able to demand things from higher ranking officers surprised me because I constantly feared that he would get reported to the War Department. Throughout the movie, I was thinking about how war has changed and how it is still, in some ways, the same. Moreover, I was thinking about how I would have fared if I had been drafted into the army.
When no one left after the news of the Confederacy's slave policy, I wondered if that was the Hollywood treatment at work or if that was a genuine event. The document stated that any African-American who served in the Union army or any White-officer in charge of them would be put to death. Since no African-Americans left, it shows how strong their determination to be free was. Also, it shows how loyal Union soldiers were to their country. I admire the 54th Massachusetts for standing by their leader. Although this might be a cliche, I think this scene represents the "we fight together and we die together" motto. Even though the colored regiment faced the problem of being treated as inferior, theey oly took pride in what they were doing. All of them were deemed as incapable on the battlefield, but they proved the White soldiers wrong when they showed their courage in Fort Wagner. Finally, even the White soldiers had to admit that they were grateful for the help. Moreover, the fact that Shaw and Trip were buried together signifies how in the end, there is no color or race to break the bond of brotherhood. Lastly, the regiment's pay had been cut down, but that didn't phase them and they only worked harder. In conclusion, the movie "Glory" was a good way to go behind the scenes and look at the roles of African-Americans during the Civil War.
It is my opinion as well to say that Col. Shaw was a great man. He had truly cared about his regiment, even if they were colored. And you did well by pointing out how he demanded things from higher ranked officers. Shaw was truly loyal to his men, and in return, his men presented their loyalty to Shaw throughout the war. But this does seem like a Hollywood-type film. It seems so rare to see such a compassionate man towards colored people at that time period.
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