Corporal Thomas Searles In The Film Glory

This is no time to fight only with your white hand, and allow your black hand to remain tied,” Douglass had urged. Frederick Douglass, in the film Glory, said that a Negro regiment would restore “pride and dignity to those who have only known degradation,” and so the 54th Massachusetts was born. A film about the first all African-American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Glory shows the strong and proud unit of men as they transform to brave warriors and strong leaders. Throughout the film, we see multiple men, both black and white become soldiers, reaching new levels of leadership and respect. This film depicts the true courage and development it takes to fully take on leadership. In this paper, two characters will be compared …show more content…
The moment he found out about the forming of the 54th regiment he immediately enlisted. Thomas was very eager for the movement, but he did not know what he was in for, as did any man joining really. He just wanted all men to have the opportunity he had, without the hatred. Searles wanted to fight so his fellow soldier would feel the same. Thomas had a very strenuous time in this new environment. The obvious being since he was black he was not accepted by the white soldiers and officers. The shocking reason being since he was literate and educated many of his fellow black soldiers did not like him because they believed he felt superior to them. He was especially disliked by Private Trip. As the movie progressed their relationship strengthened. It began at the moment of surprise. Thomas, who was considered a feeble soldier, unlike Trip. Thomas saved Trip’s life by killing a man who was about to shoot Trip. Something the great warrior Trip did not see and something the weak Thomas supposedly could not do. In that moment, Thomas also made colossal strides as a soldier. At first he was weak and fragile, and he was mocked by most of the soldiers and officers. Even though he struggled, Thomas eventually became a favorable soldier and one of the most courageous, a lot like his once enemy, Trip. He was able to fight valiantly. Thomas was my favorite character because of the change he went through, and the great leaps he made as a soldier and a person. He went from one of the weakest and most fragile soldiers to one of the best and most courageous. He also became one of the most respected and idolized soldier, especially from Trip’s perspective. Searles earned his role as a leader of the ranks. Glory showed the progression and metamorphosis of both Private Trip and Corporal Thomas Searles. It showed how they came together to fight for the greater cause, despite coming from