Men Of Honour

Men Of Honour

To become the first person to accomplish something requires determination, courage and stepping out of your comfort zone. In George Tillman Jr’s Men of Honour, we follow the life of Carl Brashear and what he went through to become the first black navy diver. Techniques such as dialogue, costumes, music, and camera angles help the audience develop a better understanding of Carl.
When Carl is first introduces as a young adult, working on a farm it is apparent he is not financially well off. The costume he wears is handed down, tattered and torn. This poor background he comes from and his father telling him “Don’t end up like me” tells the audience how Carl later went on to live his version of “the American dream.” As well as this, the costume tells the audience who Carl is. In his worn down clothing he is a young farm boy, while in his navy uniform he is a Navy man; even when he is studying in the library, he is in his navy uniform.
Carl presents himself as a strong person, committed and willing to do whatever it takes to become a navy diver. This strong character is made more obvious to the audience through the use of dialogue. This occurs when Carl is inverting a question that gets asked at him. The captain of the hoist says “What do I owe you Carl?” to which Carl replies, “The way I see it. I owe you.” This helps us to understand how much Carl appreciates someone who gives him a break. Also, Carl uses a similar inversion of the question technique in the courtroom scene, “Can you keep up with healthy divers half your age?” Captain Hanks asks him, to which Carl replies “The question is, can they keep up with me.” This shows the audience a refusal to be intimidated and a determination to succeed. He showed the same determination when he spoke to Sunday about Commander pappy decision not to allow him to graduate. “Pappy aint gonna let you pass.” Carl however overrules what he has just heard and responds affirmatively “I deserve to...