What if you were living in a world where you had to worry
about wars starting in your own backyard? Or if you had to take over the
responsibilities and obligations of your older brother who had just abandoned
you and your family to fend for themselves as he fought for the American
Country? What if, given the circumstances, you were forced to change from an
immature, young boy, to a sensible man in a matter of months? Both Thomas
Martin from The Patriot, directed by
Roland Emmerich, and Tim Meeker from My
Brother Sam is Dead, written by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher
Collier have dealt with these issues since their older brothers have gone to war.
Both Revolutionary War based stories start with Thomas and
Tim torn between two sides of the Revolution, and two sides of their
families. The fathers of each family,
Benjamin Martin and “Father” Meeker, don’t necessarily support the King’s
devious actions, but at the same time, want to keep their families together.
They do not support their eldest sons, Gabriel Martin and Sam Meeker, leaving
the nest to face so many dangers. Thomas and Tim are left undecided between two
sides of their now separated families—brother or father…. All since their
brothers went to war.
No matter what side both brothers choose, they will always
have that admiration for their brothers that all siblings have for each other.
They will stick up for one another no matter the circumstances, no matter the
cost, and this theory is portrayed perfectly in both stories when Thomas and
Tim stick up for their older brothers. Thomas Martin’s older brother is
practically captured by the British after a small fight at their house, and
Thomas tries knock the British off his brother, and in return, costs him his
life. A less tragic version of this happens in My Brother Sam is Dead, when Sam is sentenced to death, and Tim
musters enough courage to talk to the General, and try to release Sam. Lives
are taken, all since their brothers went
to war.
Not only are both Thomas and Tim torn between two sides of
their families, and they both are willing to cost their lives for their
brothers, but both of these pieces end in death of the older brother. Although Thomas is already waiting for Gabriel, Tim
has the burden of not only living his life knowing that his older brother is
dead, but to make matters worse, is awed to watch
his brother die. Even after their families were ripped apart, and everyone had
to make sacrifices because of Sam and Gabriel’s leaving, they both ended up
dead whether or not it was fair… and all since their brothers went to war.
All since their brothers went to war, families are broken.
All since their brothers went to war, lives are taken. All since their brothers
went to war, tragic stories are released. All since their brothers went to war,
their fathers live a life of regret. All since their brothers went to war, six
year old girls live with death lurking around them. All since their brothers
went to war.
All since their brothers went to war.
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