The Patriot: Reaction Paper

The film aired in the year 2000th, entitled The Patriot is an epic historical fiction war film,
starring Mel Gibson who plays the main role as Benjamin Martin, who is a is a widower raising
his seven children (five sons and two daughters) on his farm in South Carolina. Ashamed of his
notoriously brutal past as a soldier during the French and Indian War, he wishes to do nothing
more than to live peacefully on his small plantation, and wants no part of a war with the most
powerful nation at the time, Great Britain. However, Benjamin finds himself torn between
protecting his family and seeking revenge, when the British dragoon, led by Colonel William
Tavington, threatened the welfare of his family.
The story took place during the American Revolutionary War in 1776, mainly in South
Carolina. His eldest son, Gabriel, is keenly interested in the fighting between the American
colonies and the British; the Revolutionary War has been waged in other colonies for some time,
though Benjamin does not share his enthusiasm in war. The first scene of the movie showed a
congress being held in Charleston regarding the war. In here Benjamin firmly expressed that he
is against South Carolina joining the war. During this scene, Benjamin’s point of view was
clearly delivered: he does not fear for his well-being in joining the war. He is afraid of what
tragedies will the war bring to his family and the innocent people of his motherland.
His eldest son however, Gabriel Martin, is keenly interested in the fighting between the
American colonies and the British. Though his father was against it, Gabriel immediately
enlisted himself in the Continental army, after it unanimously voted in the congress that South
Carolina will join the war against the British. Benjamin could not do anything more about this
matter and was only left with no choice but to ask Colonel Harry Burwell, Benjamin’s friend and
ally, to look out for his son.
The war drags on for another two years, and Gabriel continues to write letters to his
family, detailing the atrocities of war he has encountered. One night, gunfire erupts outside the
Martin home and the family watches as a battle ensues just beyond their property. A lone and
wounded soldier enters the home. As Benjamin draws a pistol to the stranger, it is revealed to be
Gabriel, en route to deliver dispatches. Benjamin gives him care, and to the rest of the wounded
soldiers, both Continental and British, through the night into morning. One night, a gunfire
booms outside the Martin home, and the family stands outside watching as a battle rages just
outside their property. A lone, injured soldier walks into their house, who is revealed to be
Gabriel, who is on his way to give messages. Through the night and into the morning, Benjamin
tends to him and the other wounded troops, both Continental and British.
However, Colonel William Tavington, a member of the British dragoons, oversees
Benjamin’s good actions and considered Benjamin and his family as an enemy till the end. He
ordered that his son, Gabriel be seized, the wounded Continental troops be killed and the house
burned for having harbored the enemy. Thomas Martin, Gabriel’s brother, rushes forward,
desperate to free Gabriel, but is mercilessly shot by Tavington. As Tavington insults Thomas and
rides away, Thomas dies in his father's arms. While Gabriel is brought away in a separate convoy
and the Martin family’s servants, forced into British service. This event enrages Benjamin
Martin which in turn ignited his past self he once tried so hard to bury. And this has then lead to
Benjamin leading a rebellion army, whose efforts have made a pivotal impact in the birth of a
new, young, and ambitious nation.
Benjamin, along with his son Gabriel, recruits people into their rebellion army to fight for
their independence against the British. In here, the people’s fear and hesitance in becoming
patriots and fighting for their own land and people is emphasized. They are scared of the
sacrifices that their independence, of which they so long for, entail. However, Anne Howard,
Gabriel’s childhood flame, convinces her townsfolk into joining the rebellion by her speech,
“Will you now ardent patriots as I stop at only words? Is that the sort of men you are? I ask only
that you act upon the beliefs of which you have strongly spoken and in which you have strongly
believed.” This is a good message to the audience, and not only to the Americans or the British.
That patriotism does not end with words, fighting for your motherland comes with actions. This
was further emphasized by sir Reverend Oliver’s statement, “A shepherd must tend his flock, but
at times fight off the wolves”.
The formed rebellion army, led by Benjamin alongside his friend, Burwell, manages to
kill several of the British army’s men and was considered a threat by General Charles
Cornwallis, the general of the British army. Frustrated, Cornwallis orders Tavington to issue
harsher methods of intimidation against the militia. Tavington decides to track down the families
of the militia and inflicts miseries upon them. Many of the militia members’ wives and children
were killed. And Anne Howard’s family and townspeople were not given any mercy when
Tavington discovers that they have helped the formation of the militia. As Anne’s Husband, this
enrages Gabriel and seeks revenge upon Tavington and his men. However, luck seem to refuse
his side, and was unfortunately killed during his confrontation with Tavington.
This event once again brought a great impact to Benjamin. He lost the fight to will as he
mourned for his son. But his friend, Burwell, tries to console him and encourages him to keep on
fighting. At the end of their conversation Benjamin was still not convinced and was firm with his
decision to abandon the rebellion. However, as Benjamin fixes his dead son’s belongings, he
discovers a n American Flag, in which Gabriel found not long before all thorn, almost looking
like a rug rather than a flag—was miserable sewn using scraps of fabrics, as if someone (Gabriel)
tried so desperately to bring back together. Seeing the American flag, seems to ignite Benjamin’s
patriotic flame once again and decides to not let not only his sons’, but also his people’s death go
down the drain.
Meanwhile, the Continentals leave Benjamin and continue to their next decisive battle at
Cowpens. However, they soon spot Benjamin riding forward to meet them, carrying an
American flag. Benjamin has promised himself to stay the course as Gabriel once told him. With
this in mind, along with the burning thirst for revenge for his people, Benjamin and the
Continentals successfully defeated the British—ending the brutal tyranny of England while at the
same time starting anew, leading to the birth of a new, young ambitious nation. And that is how
Benjamin Martin, who once refused to fight for his land and chose to just watch in the corner
while a war wages in front of him---became a patriot.