Summary of the Movie "Patriot" by Roland Emmerich - 676 Words | Essay Example (2024)

The events in the film “Patriot” are happening during the period of the American Revolution. The main theme of the movie is uselessness of pacifism, as demonstrated in the setting of the American Revolution. As such, growing hostilities between citizens of Great Britain’s thirteen colonies and the local administration, which served the British crown, led to the Revolutionary War, commonly known as the American Revolution. All the colonies rebelled against its imperial rule, sparking a historic political and military conflict known as the American Revolution. The British crown and Parliament’s imposition of taxes without the consent of the colonial population sparked the initial revolt. Therefore, the paper aims to summarize the plot and the characters of the film “Patriot” in the framework of those historical events.

The main character Captain Benjamin Martin represents a collective image of the person of that time. It evolves around the contradictory feelings and desires for safety and peace along with the rage and desire for revenge. His older sons, Gabriel and Thomas, are young and ambitious men who, due to their lack of experience, are willing to get into the war and fight despite their fear. Charlotte Selton, the second wife of Benjamin, represents the women’s position during the war, their struggles, and the terror of losing their husbands, sons, and brothers. While Benjamin Martin is at war, she takes care of the children and remains strong to keep the most important family safe.

The Revolutionary War serves as the backdrop for the story, which explores the pointlessness of passivity. Namely, the movie is set in colonial South Carolina is in the year 1776 (Minow, 2000). Benjamin Martin, a military hero of French and Indian descent who is plagued by his history, now desires only to live in peace and harmony on his modest property and avoid involvement in a conflict with Great Britain, the most powerful country in the world. Gabriel and Thomas, his two eldest children, are eager to join the “Continental Army,” which has just been created (Minow, 2000). Gabriel instantly enlists to fight when South Carolina chooses to join the revolt against England.

The crucial moment of the film happens when a notoriously vicious British dragoon arrives and burns the plantation of Charlotte Selton, Benjamin Martin’s friend and close woman, to the ground. Gabriel decides to intrude in this situation, expecting to avoid possible punishment for his family since he previously let the wounded soldier into the house. Still, Tavington, the arch-enemy of the main character and leader of the Green Dragoons, gives the order to execute the injured Continental soldiers and burn the home for having hosted the enemy (Minow, 2000). As Gabriel is being led away, Benjamin cries out for mercy but is ignored. Tavington mercilessly shoots Thomas as he rushes forward to try to rescue Gabriel out of his grasp. The home workers, especially housekeeper Abigail, are compelled to work for the British government while Gabriel is carried away in a different convoy.

Benjamin soon discovers that he must choose between taking retribution, defending his family, and taking part in the creation of a brand-new, young, and ambitious country. Benjamin reluctantly decides to accompany Gabriel as he decides to re-join the Continentals, citing his decision as a soldier’s duty. Eventually, driven by anger, grief, and desire to revenge, the main characters engage in the war but take it as personal retribution. After the battle, Benjamin returns home to his family while Charlotte, now his lover, is still pregnant with their new child. He finds that his previous militia unit has begun to rebuild his farmstead on their former town road.

To conclude, the movie’s events demonstrate the reality of the people’s lives during the American revolution. In the framework of the historical events, the film demonstrates the general timeline and key moments and the war from the perspective of regular people. The losses and battles of the main characters are depicted to present the motivation behind the different attitudes towards war and the rationale behind the choices to fight or not to fight.

Reference List

Minow, N. (2000). The Patriot [Film]. Columbia Pictures, Centropolis Entertainment, & Mutual Film Company.