The movie Brother’s, released in 2009, details the story of trauma and recovery in two brothers, Sam and Tommy Cahill. The brothers appears to be as different as night and day, Sam a Capt. in the United States Marines and Tommy a offender released into the community after serving time in prison. Following these two brothers and their family, the movie portrays Sam as he is deployed to Afghanistan, presumed dead after his helicopter is shot down, and taken hostage as a prisoner of war. On the other side of the world, Tommy creates connections within the community which help him heal. When Sam is rescued and returns home, the entire family is shocked, and the movie depicts Sam’s battle through traumatic memories, towards healing. Through analysis of the trauma and recovery themes woven throughout Brothers, we will seek to ascertain how trauma and recovery are characterized. Causes The traumatic stressors within the movie Brothers (2009) are multi-fold, complex and vary between characters depicted in the movie. One of the traumatic stressors intersects between the brothers, Sam and Tommy. After Tommy is released from prison, a series of interactions begin which suggest …show more content…
that Tommy is considered a black sheep of the family; someone who never quite lives up to his father’s ideal. Tommy’s role seems opposite of his brother Sam’s who is a family man who appears to be rule-following, ranking military man. It becomes increasingly apparent that childhood for Tommy and Sam may have differed greatly. A glimpse into what may have occurred in childhood comes in later in the movie when the brothers’ father indicates he didn’t handle himself well after experiencing his own trauma in Vietnam. We can only speculate, but it is possible that Sam and Tommy experienced trauma in childhood resulting from their father’s alcohol usage and difficulty coping after the Vietnam war. Captain Sam Cahill’s trauma in adulthood begins when he is deployed the Afghanistan. Although not inherently traumatic, being separated from family creates stress for Sam which plays into his own resiliency through trauma. The first trauma which occurs for Sam happens when his helicopter is shot down over water in Afghanistan. Herman (1997) states that trauma “an affliction of the powerless” (pg. 33). Although trained to deal with difficult situations, Sam may have not viewed the helicopter crash as traumatic, but the stress from the even certainly chipped away at his resiliency, adding a layer to his trauma story. Checking back in, briefly, with Tommy; learning his brother had perished in a helicopter crash would have been a stressor which would meet the criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Knowing how his brother supposedly perished would have dramatically impacted Tommy, adding complexity and depth to his trauma experience. Captivity is another aspect of Tommy’s trauma which may have occurred during his time in prison. For Sam, after evacuating the crashing helicopter, he is sold to a group of what appears to be Afghanistan militants and becomes a prisoner of war. Being held in captivity and the events which occur to Sam after being sold, introduce a palpably complex layer to the trauma which continues to break down his resiliency, training, and
defenses. There is a reason why Herman dedicated an entire chapter to captivity in her 1997 book on trauma and recovery. Captivity involves prolonged, extensive, repetitive cohesive control and exposure to trauma which, for Sam, began to further deteriorate his sense of self, connection to others, resiliency, and coping. While in captivity, Sam is exposed to a man being shot as well as his squad member being tied to a post and branded. Being present to these events is purposeful, setup by the leader of the encampment. Herman (1997) states that a perpetrator in a captivity situation seeks to gain control over every aspect of a victim’s life which seeks to garner respect and gratitude from the captive which can create a willing victim. Slowly, the perpetrator works through Sam’s defenses by making him controlling every aspect of his life, instilling terror in him, and breaking down his defenses. The culmination of these acts occurs when he forces Sam to kill his comrade. During the scene where Sam is forced to kill his squad mate, the leader of the encampment repeats “you are one of us” (Brothers, 2009). Through these actions, the leader destroys Sam’s defenses until he believes he is acting of his own free will which Herman describes as “we convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him” (pg. 75). The complexity of having defenses broken down, resiliency tested, and brainwashing is a complex and traumatic process which breaks the connection between Sam and others in his life.
When Sam goes out late to leave the camp he was at during the war, he goes home to talk to his family and then he hears sounds outside and he finds patriot soldiers trying to steal his family's cattle and Sam tries to stop them. later when he returns to his camp he is accused for leaving the camp and for stealing property, and general Putnam decides to execute him and he dies. When Tim finds out he is very devastated.
One day Tim wakes up to his brother, Sam and his father arguing over the gun, because Sam was caught trying to steal it. Sam later does get away with the gun. Father later died because of a ship disease, on the British boat, and Sam is still in war, Mother was looking forward to Sam coming home to help out with Tim and all of the manly work around the house, but she is later disappointed because Sam said no. Tim and Mother are stuck now running the cattle and a business, by themselves. Later in the book thieves were stealing their cattle and Sam and Tim run to see what is going on, the thieves were actually to trick Sam, Sam ran to get the cattle back, but the thieves turned Sam in. Tim is later trying to free Sam, but Sam ends up being shot by his own military, though he did not do it. One location they were at sometimes was the tavern, which was where town meeting happened, it was their grocery store, restaurant and a hang out place. The Meeker’s are the owners of the tavern which was hard to take care of after Sam’s father passed. Many people’s cattle was being stolen, not just the Meeker’s, this is because there was a lack of food
In the story “Home Soil” by Irene Zabytko, the reader is enlightened about a boy who was mentally and emotionally drained from the horrifying experiences of war. The father in the story knows exactly what the boy is going through, but he cannot help him, because everyone encounters his or her own recollection of war. “When their faces are contorted from sucking the cigarette, there is an unmistakable shadow of vulnerability and fear of living. That gesture and stance are more eloquent than the blood and guts war stories men spew over their beers” (Zabytko 492). The father, as a young man, was forced to reenact some of the same obligations, yet the father has learne...
In their respective life journey, both Wes Moores often found them facing with some hard choices or decision to make or standing at a crossroads of life change without knowing which way to turn. Therefore, “for all of us who live in the most precarious places in this country, our destinies can be determined by a single stumble down the wrong path or a tentative step down the right one” (Moore xiv). During their early childhood, both Wes Moores struggle at school and had troubles with the law. However, for the author Wes Moore, attending the military school was the biggest turning point in his life. Aware of his mother’s determination, his family’s sacrifice, and encouragement from classmates and instructors as well as the influence of role models, the author Wes Moore finally made up his mind that he wanted to succeed in the military school. At the end, the author Wes Moore fulfilled his dream and did well academically from then on. On the other hand, the other Wes Moore had tumbled on a series of missteps along the road: dropping out of school, getting involved with drug trade, committing violent crimes, and being a father of four when he was so young and immature. Even though there was a time when he tried to reinvent himself: joining the Job Corp, getting a high school diploma, and finding some decent jobs, the reality and his making-quick-money mentality eventually brought him back to the original path with no return. At last, by committing an armed robbery that left a police officer dead, the other Wes Moore irreversibly drove himself to the dead end of life. Obviously, based on their early life experiences, both Wes Moores would have gone the same route to failure. Nevertheless, at some critical points of their lives, the author Wes Moore made some good choices with intervention and guidance of good people while the other Wes Moore lost his footing under undue
When Sam Meeker returns home from college in the spring of 1775 and announces that he has decided to enlist in the Rebel army, his parents are appalled, but his younger brother, Tim, is wide-eyed with admiration. When the brothers are outside together doing chores around their family's tavern, Sam confides in Tim his plan to steal their father's gun in order to fight. Tim protests, but he can do nothing to stop Sam. That night, Mr. Meeker and Sam have an argument about the war and Sam runs away from home. The next morning after church, Tim visits Sam in a hut where he is hiding out. He tries to talk Sam out of going to war, but without success. In the hut, Sam's girlfriend Betsy Read asks Tim which side he supports, and Tim has trouble deciding
The dominant characteristics found within ‘Competitive Brothers’ focuses on the familial dynamics, son’s duty to his father, and test of will and character. All three stories shared the same family unit, which was made up of one parental figure that serves to
The friendships and bonds that formed in the jungles of Vietnam between the members of Alpha Company help them to survive on a day to day basis. Not only while they were in Vietnam, but also in dealing with their lives back in the United States. Without the bonds of friendship none of the men of Alpha Company would have survived mentally or physically the strains and trauma of the Vietnam War. In the end it is realized that the men not only carried their gear and weapons, but they carried with them bonds, friendship and a connection that only the men of Alpha Company will ever really understand.
...er, leaving only a tranquil mind to believe that life burden is more important than his dignity. He manages to conquer his insecurity and accepts the obligation to go to Vietnam. Tim calls himself a coward---a soldier that finds courage to fight in the “wrong war”.
War is often thought about as something that hardens a soldier. It makes a person stronger emotionally because they are taught not show it and deal with it internally. People say that death in war is easier to handle because it is for the right reasons and a person can distance themselves from the pain of losing someone. However, there is always a point when the pain becomes too real and it is hard to maintain that distance. In doing so, the story disputes the idea that witnessing a traumatic event causes a numbing or blockage of feelings. Rat Kiley’s progression of sentiment began with an initial concern for the buffalo, transforming into an irate killing of the animal, and then ending with an ultimate acceptance of death. These outward displays of feeling suggested that witnessing the death of a close friend caused him to become emotionally involved in the war.
When two siblings are born together, and are close in age, many people wonder whether they will be the same or different altogether. A “River Runs through it” shows two brothers who grew up in the same household, and grew up loving to do the same activity fly fishing. Both brothers were raised in a very strict presbyterian household. Norman is the older brother, and he is much more responsible and family orientated. Paul is the irresponsible younger brother; Paul as an adult was not at home much anymore. Both brothers were loved equally as children, but how they view and use love is what separates them. Paul and Norman differ in behavior and character.
It is apparent that during war time emotions are checked at the door and ones whole psyche is altered. It is very difficult to say what the root causes of this are due to the many variables that take play in war, from death of civilians to the death of friends. However, in "Enemies" and "Friends" we see a great development among characters that would not be seen anywhere else. Although relying on each other to survive, manipulation, and physical and emotional struggle are used by characters to fight there own inter psychological wars. Thus, the ultimate response to these factors is the loss and gain of maturity among Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk.
Hunt, N.C. and McHale, S. (2010) Understanding Post Traumatic Stress. London: Sheldon Press, pp. 13-25.
Judith Herman, from Trauma and Recovery, said “Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life” (John A. Rich, Theodore Corbin, & Sandra Bloom, 2008. Trauma does not involve the same experiences for everyone; each individual is unique in that they, and only they, can decide what is traumatic for them. Before discussing what positive things can come from suffering a traumatic experience, one must first understand that negative things can arise as well. Trauma “shatters people’s basic assumptions about themselves and the world they live in”. Three basic assumptions are challenged by trauma: (1) the belief in personal invulnerability; (2) the perception of the world as meaningful and comprehensible; and (3) the view of ourselves in a positive light” (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2009, p. 67)....
The soldiers feel that the only people they can talk to about the war are their “brothers”, the other men who experienced the Vietnam War. The friendship and kinship that grew in the jungles of Vietnam survived and lived on here in the United States. By talking to each other, the soldiers help to sort out the incidents that happened in the War and to put these incidents behind them. “The thing to do, we decided, was to forget the coffee and switch to gin, which improved the mood, and not much later we were laughing at some of the craziness that used to go on” (O’Brien, 29).
The military provides you with training to become more mentally tough. It always stays busy; you don’t have time to think about anything besides the training or job you are performing. This organization can provide you with a sense of belonging, family, friends, and hope. It instills in you that no matter what the circumstance’s, you have the strength to overcome. These protective factors gained through his military service helped him become more resilient. His anger is also a protective mental factor used by Antwone to not face his true emotions. While this is negative, his anger has helped him by concentrating on others and situations instead of himself. Antwone enjoys drawing, and writing. He displays academic intelligence by being able to learn two languages. Those are crucial positive and resilient protective factors for Antwone. Despite his trauma and stubbornness, he is able to seek help and accept it. Not forgetting to mention, he is also able to demonstrate positive emotions and create positive relationships, with Lieutenant Commander Davenport and Sailor Sheryl. Antwone eventually achieves closure with his family, and in return that helps him deal with his