The Thin Red Line Essay, Research Paper
Stephanie Smirnoff
per.1 Eng.3
Nathanson
The Thin Red Line
During the blood-stained war of the novel The Thin Red
Line a theme is presented, “Only the courageous and
emotionally strong-willed survive.” Throughout the
storyline, the army of men parading through Guadalcanal are
bombarded with unpredictable situations and odds. Only the
men with courage at their backs and their heads screwed on
straight can get through this chaos. The timid, scared
stiff ones will not get out alive, but the ones who swallow
their nerves can survive. Several men display these
qualities of bravery such as: Private Jon Bell, Captain
James Stein, and Corporal Fife. Their heroic
characteristics and deeds what saved the men overall,
disobeying their sergeant included. They did what they
needed to do to keep as many people alive as possible. The
ones who are left standing were the ones who kept their
cool. The men discovered what was “the thin red line”
between the living and the dead, the crazy and the sane, how
to live another day.
Towards the beginning of the story this theme has been
portrayed through the minds of many soldiers. These men
know that half of them are going to die in the field of
battle . Slowly the soaking in of this eats away at the
souls of the men. They each become more and more nervous
and awaiting their time to attack. “Only the strong
survive…” “…Why showed I be afraid to die?” Corporal
Fife says this before his trip into the jungle . With a
good attitude and acceptance of the future his will power
drives him forth to fight amazingly. He watches others as
they cry out and can’t take anymore. The ones who buckle
under the pressure and can’t find their way die. Giving up
on himself is the worst he could have done in his situation.
He runs ahead of all the men to see what he can do to break
down enemy lines. As he hurdles into open fire he does not
freeze up he presses himself on and on.
In the middle of the novel, a great role of sacrifice
and cunning is played. Captain James Stein shows a major
amount of intelligence and persistence as he refuses orders
from his superiors. “I will not drive my men to suicide,”
he retires and pulls out of command. His decision to
disobey orders makes him risk his job and life to save his
men. His emotional stability adds comfort to those around
him making easier times. He tries dreadfully hard to keep
everyone together to pull through to destroy the enemy
bunker. He uses all he’s got with low water supplies and
eyes shutting from exhaustion. Even when he’s dismissed he
remains close to his army “as they are my sons”. He carries
them with him always. His fearlessness and encouragement
will live on in all of the men, even in his absence.
As the war stretches on, the men stretch on, so does
their need for stability and strength, emotionally and
physically. “Who lit this flame in us, the war can put it
out…” “…I was a prisoner, but it set me free,” Private
John cries out. He displays his time of glory and truth as
he runs ahead. He peeks through the tall grasses, and is
the first, on his own, to see the enemy bunker. His thirst
for victory drives him to lead men in beating down the enemy
lines. If he had not kept calm and instead had allowed his
emotions to get the better of him through the field of death
they wouldn’t have conquered the Japanese. Fight or be
beaten down, “don’t lose what’s the good in us, touch the
glory…” His courage was admired even by his superiors.
What he did took great self-confidence and will power.
In conclusion, the expression of loyalty to country and
strong hearts is continued in each page. In the theme “only
the courageous and emotionally strong-willed survive” true
bravery is defined. Each surviving man’s composure and guts
lives through them especially at the hardest times. To
exist is to suffer.