Glory Movie Character Analysis

The movie “Glory” discloses the story and history behind the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. This infantry became the first black unit to fight in the Civil War for the North. The unit was formed up of black soldiers; some Northern freemen, and some were slaves that had escaped. The leader was General Robert Gould Shaw, the son of one of the top Boston abolitionists. The men of the 54th Regiment proved themselves worthy of the freedom for which they were fighting for and to gain the respect of their fellow white soldiers they fought with. Although the white soldiers fought along their fellow Black soldiers, there were often discrepancies in communication and treatment, that led to character development throughout the movie. Throughout the movie, there is vast character development with both the white and black soldiers. Colonel Shaw experiences some hardships that influences his personality to change. In the beginning in the movie, he was experiencing war first hand without fear. After that experience, his outlook of life changed, he acts cautious and distance towards others that he had close relationships with. When he dismisses Private Searles, his close friend, he is doing so because he is recognizing reality as it was; a war against black and white people. He
Montgomery was a cocky affirmative person of war. In one scene he and his troops enter a town, where he forces his and Colonel Shaw’s men to loot and burn the town. When Colonel Shaw protests, he insists that he follows his orders or there will be consequences for Colonel Shaw and his men will be under his command. He reflects the recklessness and detrimental effects of the civil war in their own society and struggles they faced as the United States fought against each other. As we see the white characters show their place in the war in the movie, we also see the Black soldiers show character development and elements of the struggles of civil war in their