Braveheart

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Recommended: A fight for freedom

In Mel Gibson’s ‘Braveheart’ the viewer can immediately realise that the main theme in the film is men having the fight and earn their freedom against adversity. This is presented clearly by firstly the constant battles throughout the film and the inspirational speeches William Wallace delivers throughout and secondly through one of the final scenes on the film in which Wallace is slowly tortured and eventually murdered.

Firstly and most importantly ‘Braveheart’s main theme is most obviously and most effectively through the numerous battle scenes throughout the film. For example during the first battle against the English Wallace addresses the Scottish ‘army’ and convinces them to fight with him against their English oppressors with an inspirational speech during which he makes many memorable quotes including ‘I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?’ and perhaps more memorably: ‘they may take our lives, but they’ll never take ..our freedom!’. As well as adding to the atmosphere and overall feel the director is trying to create in this scene Wallace’s quotes also allude to main theme of the film: men fighting against adversary in order to win their freedom. The next major battle Wallace partakes in against the English is again very similar to the first battle with Wallace’s army fighting against a far superior English force. The theme this time however can be seen in the way Wallace goes about preparing for this battle. As he treks across Scotland to convince the other Scottish nobles to join forces with him Wallace again states his cause and points out the main t...

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...main theme of ‘Braveheart’ is men fighting to win their freedom in the face of adversary.

In conclusion the main theme of ‘Braveheart’ of men fighting to win their freedom in the face of adversary is highlighted throughout the film in two major and effective ways. Firstly the Scottish’s battles of Sterling, Falkirk and on the fields of Bannockburn illustrate to the viewer the literal fighting by men to win their freedom as well as Wallace’s constant talk of freedom alluring at the main theme of the film. Secondly the famous torture scene at the end of the film again reveals the main theme to the viewer in a slightly different way through: Wallace’s endurance of English torture and his shouting of the word ‘Freedom’ but nevertheless just as effectively. All in all both techniques are effective and present a clear view of the main theme of the movie to the viewer.

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