Yonoi Celliers Speech
Intro here
In context of the parable, Jack Celliers is the sower of the seed amongst the group, and each person takes it differently based on their personalities. Celliers good hearted nature allows for him to spread his wealth of information to the people surrounding him. Celliers has the essential traits to produce change in the people that surround him.
Yonoi represents the good soil in which the seed lands in the framework of the parable from the bible. Yonoi was obviously changed by the events that occurred when Celliers arrived at his camp. His tradition and teachings trained him to hate the enemy, in this case Celliers, but when Celliers arrives he a very different effect on him. Over the course of the film Celliers was given many chances to kill Celliers, however, he takes advantage of none of them. At one pivotal point in the film Yonoi catches Celliers attempting to escape and after Celliers drops his weapon Yonoi shouts, “Why won’t you fight!! If you defeat me you will be free!!” Celliers says nothing but just keeps smiling. Guards finally reach them and Lawrence, whispers to Celliers, “Jack, I think he’s taken a bit of a shine to you.” This is a critical scene to show the effect that Celliers has on Yonoi because of Yonoi’s …show more content…
cognitive dissidence towards the actions of Celliers. In my opinion, Yonoi keeps Celliers around because he knows that Celliers has much to teach him.
At the conclusion of the film, Celliers is put to death for his actions, however, his death is at the hand of Yonoi.
Yonoi visits Celliers where he lies buried to the neck but still cognizant. Yonoi walks up behind him, shears a lock of his hair, wraps it in a handkerchief, and places it in his pocket. The proceeds to walk in the view of Celliers, and perform a military salute, and then he marches away. This is conclusion of the relationship between Celliers and Yonoi, however, this final salute shows the respect that Yonoi shows for the philosophies of Jack Celliers. Celliers might not have won the war or survived it, but he changed the mindset of the enemy and that is the most valuable lesson one can take from the
war.
In context of the parable Sergeant Hara represents the rock. In the opening of the film Sergeant Hara attempts to extract a confession from a Korean guard he believes sexually attacked a Dutch prisoner. Hara summons a British officer, Col. John Lawrence, to witness the episode. Lawrence wants to know what happened and questions the men. When Hara interrupts and berates the men, the Korean guard attempts to commit suicide. Hara approves and encourages him to proceed. Lawrence then moves to intervene but Hara stops him and rages about his tolerance and his attention to explanations. For Hara, what these men have to say is irrelevant.
Seed sowed on the path is Lawrence. Because he is beaten down to a point where he lashes out.
The seed strangled by the thorns is Group Capt. Hicksley. Because he starts off with good in his heart then is strangled by the hatred of the opposing culture and is forced to lash out against his captors. This incident establishes the primary theme for the film. Hara cannot understand Lawrence's interest in explanations and another’s points-of-view. Consistent with his cultural training, he interprets this interest as weakness. Moreover, Hara regards such sentiment as weakness heaped on weakness because the Japanese view all prisoners as weak for having allowed themselves to be captured rather than taking their own lives. Prisoners are not only treated as prisoners but also as men who are not quite men—men contaminated by a dangerous spiritual impurity.
But Hara nevertheless senses Lawrence is different. Like other prisoners, he exhibits little fear of the Japanese, but, unlike the others, his lack of fear is motivated by a measure of respect rather than hatred. Confused by Lawrence's knowledge and appreciation of Japanese language and culture, Hara grudgingly respects his unusual attitude while despising his empathy and tolerance for others. For Hara, Lawrence projects incompatible traits. This anomaly in character makes it difficult for Hara to deal with him in a routine way.
The film concludes with a scene after the war. Lawrence now visits Hara in prison. Tried and convicted of war crimes, Hara has been sentenced to execution at dawn. He explains he requested the visit from Lawrence because he believes Lawrence is the only person he knows who can help him understand why he is treated differently from other Japanese officers. His treatment of prisoners was intended only to rid them of their “wrong-headedness” and make them better men. Knowing Hara and his devoted adherence to the practices of his culture, Lawrence understands this to be a sincere pronouncement, however peculiar it might sound to those who were victims of the Japanese military and cultural codes. Grasping the instructive irony in the situation, Lawrence tells Hara he is now the victim of men who think they are right just as Lawrence was the victim of men who thought they were right in the prisoner of war camp. Hara shows his understanding and appreciation of this insight by again wishing Lawrence a Merry Christmas.
Although the major conflict portrayed in the film occurs between the Japanese and the prisoners, the greater contrast in character exists between Lawrence and Celliers and the ranking British officer, Hicksley-Ellis. He never falters from intense hatred of the Japanese and shows no inclination or capacity to discover what manner of person the enemy is. This dehumanization of the Japanese makes it possible for him to keep the conflict clearly polarized. For Lawrence, this surrender to hatred is too easy and constitutes too great a dehumanization of oneself. When pressed by Hara for an explanation of the British “cowardliness” in surrender, Lawrence answers that the British do not commit suicide because they want to keep on fighting. Even as a prisoner, he keeps on fighting by attempting to bridge the conflict and cultural chasm between them. For Lawrence, this is how the war is really fought—not by trying merely to overcome the enemy by force but by empathy for the other side.
Seed or word of God- Celliers
Seed on road- Lawrence
Seed strangled by the thorns- Hicksley
Seed on rock- Hara
Seed in good soil- Yonoi
Celliers did not succeed in single-handedly winning the war or avoiding his own death, but he did succeed in altering the way in which one Japanese officer framed the enemy.
In the conclusion of the film Hara has respect for Lawrence and for Celliers because of the lessons that they taught him during their stay in his camp. (also it is interesting that they are the two that are released?).
In context of the parable, Jack Celliers is the sower of the seed amongst the group, and each person takes it differently based on their personalities. Celliers good hearted nature allows for him to spread his wealth of information to the people surrounding him. Celliers has the essential traits to produce change in the people that surround him.
Yonoi represents the good soil in which the seed lands in the framework of the parable from the bible. Yonoi was obviously changed by the events that occurred when Celliers arrived at his camp. His tradition and teachings trained him to hate the enemy, in this case Celliers, but when Celliers arrives he a very different effect on him. Over the course of the film Celliers was given many chances to kill Celliers, however, he takes advantage of none of them. At one pivotal point in the film Yonoi catches Celliers attempting to escape and after Celliers drops his weapon Yonoi shouts, “Why won’t you fight!! If you defeat me you will be free!!” Celliers says nothing but just keeps smiling. Guards finally reach them and Lawrence, whispers to Celliers, “Jack, I think he’s taken a bit of a shine to you.” This is a critical scene to show the effect that Celliers has on Yonoi because of Yonoi’s …show more content…
cognitive dissidence towards the actions of Celliers. In my opinion, Yonoi keeps Celliers around because he knows that Celliers has much to teach him.
At the conclusion of the film, Celliers is put to death for his actions, however, his death is at the hand of Yonoi.
Yonoi visits Celliers where he lies buried to the neck but still cognizant. Yonoi walks up behind him, shears a lock of his hair, wraps it in a handkerchief, and places it in his pocket. The proceeds to walk in the view of Celliers, and perform a military salute, and then he marches away. This is conclusion of the relationship between Celliers and Yonoi, however, this final salute shows the respect that Yonoi shows for the philosophies of Jack Celliers. Celliers might not have won the war or survived it, but he changed the mindset of the enemy and that is the most valuable lesson one can take from the
war.
In context of the parable Sergeant Hara represents the rock. In the opening of the film Sergeant Hara attempts to extract a confession from a Korean guard he believes sexually attacked a Dutch prisoner. Hara summons a British officer, Col. John Lawrence, to witness the episode. Lawrence wants to know what happened and questions the men. When Hara interrupts and berates the men, the Korean guard attempts to commit suicide. Hara approves and encourages him to proceed. Lawrence then moves to intervene but Hara stops him and rages about his tolerance and his attention to explanations. For Hara, what these men have to say is irrelevant.
Seed sowed on the path is Lawrence. Because he is beaten down to a point where he lashes out.
The seed strangled by the thorns is Group Capt. Hicksley. Because he starts off with good in his heart then is strangled by the hatred of the opposing culture and is forced to lash out against his captors. This incident establishes the primary theme for the film. Hara cannot understand Lawrence's interest in explanations and another’s points-of-view. Consistent with his cultural training, he interprets this interest as weakness. Moreover, Hara regards such sentiment as weakness heaped on weakness because the Japanese view all prisoners as weak for having allowed themselves to be captured rather than taking their own lives. Prisoners are not only treated as prisoners but also as men who are not quite men—men contaminated by a dangerous spiritual impurity.
But Hara nevertheless senses Lawrence is different. Like other prisoners, he exhibits little fear of the Japanese, but, unlike the others, his lack of fear is motivated by a measure of respect rather than hatred. Confused by Lawrence's knowledge and appreciation of Japanese language and culture, Hara grudgingly respects his unusual attitude while despising his empathy and tolerance for others. For Hara, Lawrence projects incompatible traits. This anomaly in character makes it difficult for Hara to deal with him in a routine way.
The film concludes with a scene after the war. Lawrence now visits Hara in prison. Tried and convicted of war crimes, Hara has been sentenced to execution at dawn. He explains he requested the visit from Lawrence because he believes Lawrence is the only person he knows who can help him understand why he is treated differently from other Japanese officers. His treatment of prisoners was intended only to rid them of their “wrong-headedness” and make them better men. Knowing Hara and his devoted adherence to the practices of his culture, Lawrence understands this to be a sincere pronouncement, however peculiar it might sound to those who were victims of the Japanese military and cultural codes. Grasping the instructive irony in the situation, Lawrence tells Hara he is now the victim of men who think they are right just as Lawrence was the victim of men who thought they were right in the prisoner of war camp. Hara shows his understanding and appreciation of this insight by again wishing Lawrence a Merry Christmas.
Although the major conflict portrayed in the film occurs between the Japanese and the prisoners, the greater contrast in character exists between Lawrence and Celliers and the ranking British officer, Hicksley-Ellis. He never falters from intense hatred of the Japanese and shows no inclination or capacity to discover what manner of person the enemy is. This dehumanization of the Japanese makes it possible for him to keep the conflict clearly polarized. For Lawrence, this surrender to hatred is too easy and constitutes too great a dehumanization of oneself. When pressed by Hara for an explanation of the British “cowardliness” in surrender, Lawrence answers that the British do not commit suicide because they want to keep on fighting. Even as a prisoner, he keeps on fighting by attempting to bridge the conflict and cultural chasm between them. For Lawrence, this is how the war is really fought—not by trying merely to overcome the enemy by force but by empathy for the other side.
Seed or word of God- Celliers
Seed on road- Lawrence
Seed strangled by the thorns- Hicksley
Seed on rock- Hara
Seed in good soil- Yonoi
Celliers did not succeed in single-handedly winning the war or avoiding his own death, but he did succeed in altering the way in which one Japanese officer framed the enemy.
In the conclusion of the film Hara has respect for Lawrence and for Celliers because of the lessons that they taught him during their stay in his camp. (also it is interesting that they are the two that are released?).