The movie “Sergeant York” (1941) is a biography of American soldier named Alvin C. York who evolved from a previous chaotic and hard-drinking man into one of the acclaimed heroes of the United States during the World War I. After meeting York's three conditions on how to go about his film-biography, Warner Bros. proceeded with the movie and was able to impart to the American public a movie that was considered as one of the moving and inspirational film biographies.
This is because the film “Sergeant York” was able to define and significantly influenced the people of the United States on what it really means to be a true-blooded American and a God-fearing Christian. Movie Overview “Sergeant York,” is a biographical film starring Gary Cooper. This was based from Sergeant York's diary, as it explicitly depicted the World War I hero as he was. With no pretensions, York was a picture of an intoxicated and insubordinate young Tennessee man who constantly breaks church service.
York’s relatives, together with a pastor named Rosie Pile, portrayed by actor Walter Brennan, attempted to change York’s egoistic personality, and convince him to become either a religious nationalistic person. However, they failed to do so. This was so until York was stricken and nearly killed by a thunderbolt. This has absolutely changed the life of York.
Movie's Definition of Being an American and Christian According to Sergeant York, as manifested in his film-biography, a significant definition of being a Christian is that it is simply realizing the power and existence of God who can, in an instant, get one's life. Being a Christian means putting the words of God into human words and actions which can be done through one's complete conversion from being an unbeliever into a man of peace and forgiveness. York has evidently showed this meaning through his belief that it is being Christian to forgive those who have wronged you and it is non-Christian to kill a person.Sergeant York” portrays the meaning of Christianity in the main character by presenting that although faced with many provocations, York pledged never to lose his temper and not to throw anger to anyone again.
Aside from being a good spouse and provider for his wife, York studies and teaches Bible classes and lives up to the Scripture's clear message that a Christian never kills a person (Waggoner 1). Meanwhile, the film's definition of being an American is evidently manifested when York was drafted in the US military when it went to war in 1917.Declaring himself as the “conscientious objector,” he showed his military and leadership skill by adhering to his Christian-bound principle not to kill anyone. York's Christianity definition was put into test by his commanding officer who was able to make York realize the need for violence in order to fight for your country.
In the face of an ambush and a friend's death, the pacifist in York was converted into an awakening of anger.The movie “Sergeant York” defined being an American according to York's understanding that it is one's choice or decision of turning away from peace and embracing the call of violence in order to (and because it is the only way) to fight for the democracy of the United States. The film showed that being an American meant having to arouse and ignite one's anger (even in middle of a war) in order just to fight for the country's freedom.Sergeant York” has successfully defined this meaning when York personally killed 25 German soldiers and eventually single-handedly seized more than one hundred war prisoners (Erickson 1). Conclusion Drawing from the lesson of his bolt lightning accident, York indeed had an absolute about face or realization of what it meant to be a true Christian and American. “Sergeant York” was an effective depiction of York's transformation from once a non-believer into becoming a devout Christian.
However, this definition of Christianity was tested by a call or demand for heroism. York's braveness has led to his acceptance that killing a person in times of war does not erode his being a Christian. In the same way, his heroism and being an American did not change his belief in God. York acknowledged that although war demands for American patriotism, there is still Christianity in the middle of killing people especially in an effort to defend the country and in order to save other's lives. In the end, York understood how God works in mysterious manners.Works Citedhttp://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/pre2000/rvu-sgtyork.html
