The thin red line

¶ … Red Line

Witt's "essence" is his conflict over the meaning of his life and his death. He attempts to understand his role in the world. Ultimately, he comes to the conclusion that his role is as something of a guardian to his military family, who have taken the place for him of his real family since his mother died. He nurtures them when they are wounded and ultimately sacrifices himself for their good, the way that he believes a guardian would. In this sense, he finds what he is looking for in the end, because he finds for himself a role and a sense of purpose. In his final moments, he returns to the state of child-like wonder that sparked his journey in the first place. He does this even in the midst of conflict because he has found his purpose.

The nature shots illustrate the way in which man and the world interact. While each man is an island unto himself, he still exists within the concept of the world. Soldiers in the midst of battle look up and see bats or lizards, for example, showing that no matter how isolated they can become individually they are all part of something. The nature shots show that men are at all times connected to the world and therefore have the opportunity to give their lives meaning at all times.

3. The last shot represents the island that Welsh was speaking about earlier in his discussion with Witt. Each man is an island in the world, at once a part of the world but yet separated as well. Witt became his island, a part of both his military family and after his death a part of Guadalcanal. The palm tree growing out of the beach represents the rebirth part of the cycle -- it is Witt being reborn on the island which gave him his meaning.