Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee is known as an exceedingly excellent defensive lawyer due to his known ability to comprise dealings to lessen the punishments of his clients. This way he avoids even taking the case to trial. However, Kaffee’s clients, Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson and PFC Louden Downey, stat that the crime they are accused of is nothing more then carrying out the orders of their commanding officers. Therefore accepting the deal would degrade their honor as a Marine. This forces Lieutenant Kaffee to compose an actual defense for his clients, something he hasn’t done in years, let alone seen the inside of a court room. As the movie progresses, Kaffee matures his morality from a lawyer who attempts to take the easy way out to one that is more responsible.
Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson, who is a role model to his friend and fellow Marine Louden Downey, constantly attempts to explain to Kaffee that the act the carried out was only done because it was demanded as an order. Dawson also heavily believes in his troops “ code”, which includes loyalty and honor like virtues. The viewer’s respect for the Marines increases as they learn more about the hardships and importance of the Marine Corps placement in Cuba to protect the U. S. A. Dawson exhibits a great example of a person with great loyalty towards what he believes in.
Colonel Jessup, who is one of the most respected commanders in the marines, runs the military outpost in Cuba. He has a great belief in the Marine code because it gives American’s their freedom that they deserved. However one code Jessup greatly believes in is that of “ code red”, which is frowned upon in the Marine regulations. Jessup insists that this unofficial rule keeps the marines in line, and if Marines strictly carried out their service as the book of regulations states, then America would not be free.
The victims in both “ A Few Good Men” and “ The Caine Mutiny”, distinguished many differences between their fellow marines or nay officers. Captain Queeg’s paranoia constantly caused him to make wrong decisions for his crew, and always laid the blame on someone else. Willie differed from his other naval officers by continuously falling behind and not obeying orders. In each both cases others tried to intervene to attempt to remove them from power, based on the outcomes of past events.
When Captain Queeg endangers the lives of his fellow shipmates, the officers make it their duty to take over command and disobey orders to save their own lives. Without them doing this, the ship most likely would have sunk. Dawson and Downey on the other hand were ordered to give Santiago a code red, and they obeyed it since it was from a commanding officer. Also, the victims were both warned on what would be happening to them, but both responded differently. Santiago knew that he would be punished for threatening the “ code” and tried to escape his persecution by fleeing from the base in Cuba. However Queeg did not eve recognize that he was going to be removed from duty through a mutiny.
If I were to choose a soldier from the movie, I would find myself most similar to Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson. Mainly due to I have strong beliefs in certain areas, even if they are deemed as wrong. Therefore I will fight for my right to believe in them. My feelings after the verdict was revealed would be temporary relief due to the fact that I was not charged with murder, however if I firmly believed what I did was right, then I would not be satisfied with being let go from the Marines. I would still define right as obeying orders that are demanded of me and never to act against my moral beliefs.
