Glory Film Analysis

The American Civil War, lasting from 1861 to 1865, was an impactful and life changing event in American history. It influenced the way the society thought about slavery and other issues such as changing the fact of the Civil War being a whites-only affair. The film Glory inspired by the issue in 1989, however, changed that perspective that people had. It introduced the new idea of African Americans having just as much potential as the whites. This film indicates many new and important concepts that tell the story of how the African Americans were chosen to be in the battle. The three most important events in the film that show the journey were when Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was awaken by a black man named Sergeant John Rawlins, then when Colonel …show more content…
The men were on the beach, running with Robert leading them, ready to take on Fort Wagner. It was cloudy and there were bombs dropping everywhere and smoke and bullets being shot. No matter how many bombs were being thrown in their path or men falling by their sides, they kept running straight ahead. As the remaining men who were by Robert’s side and feet away from Fort Wagner hiding on the sandy hill, Robert took out his gun and decided to shoot them before they shot anymore of his people. He was shot in the leg, but he still stood up not giving up. After that, he was shot multiple times causing him to die. His true friends and comrades were in shock and could not accept his death, after all his commitment. Both moments showed true determination and faith. This proved Col. Robert’s idea of having African American men join the Union and fight as well, for their country too. His determination on executing his idea and proving some people wrong, led to the men’s determination. Even though, “more than 40 percent of its combat troops and a third of its officers were killed or wounded at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner” (Klein), it was still a great success because Col. Roberts legacy still