VIETNAM METAMORPHOSIS OF A NATION " Rejoice O young man in thy youth..." (Ecclesiastics). This quote begins the movie, Platoon, and serves as an ironic comment on what is to follow. Both the interviews in the text and the movie, Platoon, attempt to explain a significant human experience, one that was essentially a metamorphosis for many who took part in it. Vietnam was crucial to all who experienced it. The one constant thing is change.Each of the people interviewed, explained the changes they went through. Some were drafted, some enlisted, most entered Vietnam with a naive, youthful attitude. They were hardened, their souls rapidly aged. Most left, having changed drastically in their attitudes toward our involvement as a country, as well as their own personal involvement. Many despised the protesters at home, and ended up despising the Vietnamese people.Chris Tucker (Charley Sheen) was the focus for change in the movie. He was surrounded by stock characters from whom he could take or leave whatever they had to offer. He was the one to watch, the moral center of the film whose experience would explain it all for us.The film is told from his point of view. He wanted to live up to what his grandfather did in World War I and what his father did in World War 2, just as Mike, one of the interviewees, felt he had an obligation to live up to his family's heroics (Wheeler/Becker 273). And, just like Mike, Chris Tucker dropped out of college to do so. Chris Tucker jumped into the war not fully knowing what to expect. He vomits at his first sign of violent death, and can hardly keep up on his first search and destroy mission. But after some exposure to the war he feels as if he were born of two fathers. One, whose morals have not been pillaged and burned by his exposure to death. And one who embraces death and kills without guilt.The character of Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berringer) in Platoon, represented what was worst in the range of...
