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A Character Analysis of the Film: Blood Diamond (2006)

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A Character Analysis of the Film: Blood Diamond (2006)
This study will analyze three central characters in the film: Blood Diamond (2006) by director Edward Zwick. By understanding the moral and ethical dilemma of illegal “conflict diamonds” being stolen and smuggled by Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) there is an unethical and immoral business dilemma he must deal with through other characters he encounters during the Sierra Leone Civil War of 1999. Another character, Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), is a native of the region that has been captured and forced into slavery as a diamond miner/laborer that invariably comes into contact with Archer after he discovers a large and rare diamond that he hides during his work shift. This aspect of the film opens the possibility of Archer slowly coming to realize his immorality and unethical business practices, as Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) acts as a moral voice through her journalism. In this manner, these aspects of these three characters will be evaluated in this business analysis of Blood Diamond.

I.The ends and means of each character builds bridges into the central character, Danny Archer, as he is enveloped in the illegal conflict diamonds that are brought into Europe through smuggling as a result of the Sierra Leone civil war. The means of Archer’s greed his one unethical standard that drives him toward making profits off the horror and destruction of whole communities in Africa during internal military conflict. He is willing to go to any means to rationalize his involvement with RUF, as he is directly linked to Europeans that are creating civil wars in Africa to exploit Africans and their natural resources. When Danny talks about his immoral perspective on the world with Maddy Bowen, an American journalist writing a story about the war, his means to an end as a businessman is made clear:
Maddy Bowen: The world is falling apart and all we hear about is blowjob-gate.
Danny Archer: When was the last time the world wasn't falling apart, huh?
Maddy Bowen: Uh, a


Cited: Blood Diamond. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perfs. Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio. USA: Warner, 2007.
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