Colonel Nathan R Jessep and the truth paradox

One of the most famous movie monologues of all time is speech delivered by Colonel Nathan R. Jessep in the 1992 Rob Reiner film A Few Good Men. Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson, is the commander at Guantanamo Bay. He faces a difficult situation regarding what to do with Private Santiago, an underperforming Marine who was believed to be a threat to the integrity and safety of the entire unit. Jessep and his men carried out what was known as a “code red,” essentially assassinating Santiago.

Later, Jessep is court marshaled. He was not on trial, though; he was actually called as a witness in the trial of two of his subordinates, Corporal Dawson and Private Downey. Jessep delivers his famous speech during the trial. The rhetoric used in the speech is as important as the means by which Jessep delivers it, using nonverbal communication cues that convey meaning. Using pathos, ethos, and logos, Jessep delivers a memorable, impactful speech, but one that ultimately leads to his own demise.

Pathos is what makes Jessep’s speech so commanding and compelling, and what makes this movie moment so enduring. Jessep (and Nicholson) convey pathos in several ways in this speech, including the choice of diction, theme, tone, and delivery. In terms of the choice of words alone, Jessep goads Kaffee first, saying “You want answers? You want answers?” His use of repetition reveals the rising intensity of Jessep’s powerful emotions, the pathos used to deliver the speech. Jessep also embeds pathos into the speech by what he says. In particular, he states, “Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives.” This may or may not be true, and Jessep is here glossing over the fact that it is categorically unethical to kill a man for what you think he might do. Yet when Jessep says this, he is invoking the deep fears Americans have about being under threat, and also hearkens to Kaffee’s sympathy for all the Marines do for their country: “We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.”

Following from this, Jessep weaves his own ethical stance into the speech. He establishes credibility first as a commanding officer. Jessep also undermines Kaffee’s ethical stance and authority when he states, “You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.” When Jessep also refers to the “honor, code, and loyalty” of the Marines, he is creating the illusion that his ethical principles are more elevated than that of the court system. Jessep uses ethos to establish his authority and power, something he is used to as a commanding officer in the military. Jessep is not used to being placed under pressure like this from people outside of his usual chain of command, which is why he resorts to this use of ethos in the speech.

Finally, any strong rhetoric must contain components of logic or logos. In “You Can’t Handle the Truth,” Jessep does use logic, albeit twisted logic, to make his case. Jessep claims, “Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.” One of the most critical points in the speech is when Jessep states, “you need me on that wall.” The statement is true. Jessep also points out that a strong military is critical for protecting the lives of all Americans, and then readily admits that he did order the code red. Of course, admitting the truth leads to Jessep being arrested, his fate sealed.

The method of delivery is as important as what Jessep says. Jessep assumes command of the situation by raising his voice and using strong language. He says the word “damn” several times to emphasize his case. He tries to undermine the authority of the court and gets personal with Kaffee, using ad hominem and other logical fallacies liberally. Yet ultimately, the speech is successful because it made an emotional impact on audiences.










Works Cited

“American Rhetoric: Movie Speech,” (n.d.). http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/specialengagements/moviespeechafewgoodmencodered.html
Reiner, Rob. A Few Good Men. Feature film, 1992.