A Few Good Men: Film Analysis

Nearly all people submit to authority, whether it be unknowingly or because of the position one is engaging in. Depending on the outcome, many either choose to deny or accept the consequences they have endured from their actions. People have a mind set on how their life will be lived and who will dictate that life, but a person's morals could be tested if an authority figure ceases to challenge those set morals. There are countless of different occurrences to which people can submit to authority including individuals that follow direct orders in the military so they do not become belittled or punished by fellow members which is the case more often than not. Additionally people submit to authority in their everyday lives by being submissive at their jobs to their bosses to insure their position is secure and they are not fired. Submitting to
Marines, Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey, who kill a fellow Marine, Private William Santiago, at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Santiago failed to respect the chain of command in attempts at being transferred to another base. Colonel Nathan Jessup ordered Lieutenant Kendrick and Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson to give Santiago a Code Red to teach him a lesson. The case is given to Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, an inexperienced U.S. Navy lawyer. Dawson and Downey insist they did not intend for Santiago to die. Lieutenant Colonel Markinson reveals to Kaffee that Jessup never intended to transfer Santiago off the base, but commits suicide rather than testify in court. Galloway then convinces Kaffee to call Colonel Jessup as a witness despite the risk. Under pressure from Kaffee, Jessup reveals that he ordered the Code Red. Jessup and Kendrick are then arrested. Soon afterwards, Dawson and Downey are cleared of the murder charge, but found guilty of "conduct unbecoming a United States Marine" and dishonorably discharged (A Few Good