In Class- Apocalypse Now, Rawley

Apocalypse Now takes place during the Vietnam War in 1969. captain Willard is a soldier that has been released but cannot adjust to civilian life. This is when he is approached with a special mission to assassinate Colonel Kurtz deep in the jungle of Cambodia. Williard takes the mission without hesitation but during his journey to find Kurtz, he realizes that people have been sent before but none have ever returned. His journey is filled with interesting people like LTC Kilgore. Kilgore is an exciting man who takes his job seriously, but he is so full of life. He takes time out to go surfing during attacks, cracks jokes, spends time at a bonfire. He is a good opposite of Williard who we see is very serious and does not really know how to have fun. Williard is in charge of four soldiers on his PBR to find Kurtz. He learns from them and treats them as his own up until one of them dies from going down a river that they should not have gone on. Throughout the movie, we notice that Williard likes to have control. He likes the structure of the military which is why he had a hard time functing after being released. Through all of his expeditions and the people that he meets, he learns to loosen up and that he cannot have control over everything. Kurtz, on the other hand, had complete control over all the jungle men and they worship him. After Williard kills Kurtz, he is given the opportunity to take his place and rule over this little village of people and does not take it. Kurtz whispers "The horror... the horror" as he is dying and then Williard realizes the result of having all control and doing anything to keep it.