The Importance of Obedience in a Few Good Men

In the film A Few Good Men, directed by Rob Reiner, obedience is a central theme that is explored through the characters and the events that unfold. At the heart of the story is a young lawyer, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, who is tasked with defending two marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier. As Kaffee investigates the case, he discovers that the marines were following orders from their superiors, exposing the complex nature of obedience within the military hierarchy. This essay will argue that obedience is a crucial aspect of military life and that it can have both positive and negative consequences, as illustrated in A Few Good Men.

The Military Hierarchy and Obedience

In any military organization, obedience is essential for maintaining discipline and order. Soldiers must follow orders from their superiors without question, even if they do not agree with the orders. This is necessary to ensure that everyone is working toward the same goal and that the mission is accomplished efficiently and effectively. In A Few Good Men, we see the consequences of disobeying orders when Private First Class William Santiago is killed because he failed to follow an order to leave the base. This is a tragedy that could have been avoided if Santiago had followed orders, illustrating the importance of obedience in the military hierarchy.

However, blind obedience can be dangerous and can lead to unethical behavior. In the case of Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey, they were following orders to give Santiago a "Code Red," which involved punishing him physically for failing to meet the standards of the Marine Corps. While Dawson and Downey believed that they were following orders and doing their duty as Marines, their actions were unethical and illegal. This raises the question of whether obedience should have limits and whether soldiers should be held responsible for their actions, even if they were following orders.

Obedience and Responsibility

The theme of responsibility is closely linked to obedience in A Few Good Men. Lieutenant Kaffee argues that it is not enough to blindly follow orders; soldiers must also take responsibility for their actions. This is illustrated in the scene where Kaffee cross-examines Colonel Nathan Jessup, who orders the Code Red. When Kaffee asks Jessup whether he gave the order, Jessup responds, "I ordered the Code Red because that's what needed to happen." This shows that Jessup believes that he is justified in his actions because he was following the rules and doing what he believed was necessary to maintain discipline and order.

However, Kaffee argues that soldiers must take responsibility for their actions, even if they were following orders. He believes that soldiers have a duty to follow ethical principles and that they should be held accountable for their actions, even if they were following orders. This raises the question of whether obedience and responsibility can coexist in the military hierarchy, or whether they are inherently in conflict.

The Limits of Obedience

A Few Good Men also explores the limits of obedience within the military hierarchy. While soldiers must follow orders, there are times when they must also exercise independent judgment and act on their own initiative. This is illustrated in the scene where Lieutenant Sam Weinberg tells Kaffee that he is "just following orders" and that he is not comfortable with the direction that the case is going. This shows that even within the military hierarchy, there is a need for independent judgment and critical thinking.

Ultimately, A Few Good Men raises important questions about the nature of obedience in the military hierarchy. While obedience is essential for maintaining discipline and order, it can also lead to unethical behavior and actions. Soldiers must balance their duty to follow orders with their responsibility to act ethically and to take responsibility for their actions. The film suggests that there are limits to obedience, and that soldiers must sometimes exercise independent judgment and critical thinking to ensure that they are acting in the best interests of their country and their fellow soldiers.