Paths of Glory
The Perseverance of Humanity
Paths of Glory was a visually stunning movie, but also about the lack of humanity on the battlefield and a story of how people with power cannot see the perils and hardships of people below them. The movie is instigated by General Broulard and Mireau's greed for power and ranking despite knowingly sending men into a fight they cannot win. General Mireau's preoccupation with being in line for the "12th" intensifies his apathy and leads him to spout pro military coercion to Colonel Dax without fully understanding the harm it will do. The protagonist, Colonel Dax, reverts this enthusiasm and mentions the humanity of both sides, something that General Mireau doesn't see. Throughout the movie, the audience sees how humanity remains in people throughout the ranks, with the Generals lacking, the Colonels refraining from showing emotion to stay strong for their soldiers, and the soldiers themselves succumbing to their humanity at the brink of death. The people who are closest to death are subjected to the worst experiences in that time era but still retain empathy, whereas the Generals are apathetic and treat emotion as a virus...
