Bill Rago Character Analysis

Life can be like a river, gracefully winding down a mysterious path, uncertain of what lies ahead. However, its flow may veer off from one's desired destination, drifting into uncharted, murky waters. Down on his luck, Bill Rago (Danny Devito), leads a life analogous to that of a river. After a career ending slip up, Bill is shipped out to boot camp, tasked with the daunting objective of pushing a group of ignoramuses to reach their peak intellectual capabilities. Through the study of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Hamlet, Bill guides these wisecracking twerps to discover not only how to become loyal soldiers, but also how to be well-rounded human beings. Renaissance Man will deliver a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from heartwarming moments of bonding between fellow soldiers to scenes consisting of vulgar insults being hurled across the classroom.

In the opening scenes of the film the audience is greeted with the disgruntled mug of sarcastic divorcee, Bill Rago. He has officially hit rock bottom, losing his job and damaging an already fragile relationship with his teenage daughter. In desperate need of a job, Bill thrusts himself into a precarious new role as the intellectual redeemer for a select group of remedial military personnel. Ahead of him awaits an uphill battle to teach these soldiers not only how to comprehend the world around them, but also engender a desire to learn. Lacking previous misconceptions about the difficulty of comprehension associated with Shakespeare's works or literature, the students express an interest in Bill's choice of reading, Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is aware of the challenge it may pose, but he grows confident that his pupils will rise to the occasion. Using the metaphors and similes constructed by Shakespeare centuries ago, Bill must race to find a way to mentally prepare his students for the harsh military lifestyle that awaits