The Farce of Heroism An opinion paper on heroism using examples from "The Gemeral" and "Birth of A Nation".

The Farce of Heroism The concepts of heroism in war depicted in Birth of a Nation (1915) and The General (1927) are much the same throughout the two films, but the theory of heroism is much different toward the end of the films. The heroism concept portrayed in Birth of a Nation is one of pure and true heart with no stopping until death as was the perceived way of soldiers in the time period. However later …

…for the war hero's who were dead or injured, but for the man of true heart and love. Both films limn there is no heroism in war. Maybe they were right too, because have you ever met a war hero that was completely functional and right in the head? If it is necessary to be maimed, shot or killed I personally want no part of heroism. Keaton and Griffiths both seemed to feel the same.