The Farce of Heroism The concepts of heroism in war depicted in Birth of a Nation (1915) and The General (1927) are much the same throughout the two films, but the theory of heroism is much different toward the end of the films. The heroism concept portrayed in Birth of a Nation is one of pure and true heart with no stopping until death as was the perceived way of soldiers in the time period. However later in the film the "hero's welcome home" seemed rather tragic and depressing. While the heroism portrayed in both films tended to be satirical and offered a jab at the concept of heroism in war. There is one main congruency between the two films and that being: Heroism is best suited for what your true beliefs are. Birth of a Nation, which was the most watched film of all time, was filmed and released after World War I had broken out. With the imminent U.S. involvement upcoming, the picture of the undaunted hero running to his demise, with flag in hand and pride in his heart, was something the audience wanted to see to ease their insecurities about war. This very long, approximately three hours, saga of two families in the Civil War made it seem that a true hero would die for the greater good of the "Nation" and he would be immortalized in the eyes of his peers. With this thought in mind the every male rushes off to enlist and become heroes for their families. The truth behind the matter became very evident when first the "hero", saved by his best friend/enemy, was to be sentenced to death by his saviors/captors. Once he is released, due to his mother's pleadings to the president for him, he travels home to his ruined home, two dead brothers, wounded father and destroyed family. This statement is rather harsh and real. Another hero of Birth of a Nation is President Lincoln, the victor and hero of the United States, gets his "hero's welcome home" with an assassins bullet. Perhaps D.W. Griffiths had a great disdain for war? "Buster" Keaton also had a stalwart stance against war, however he showed it in a much more agreeable way. His satirical comedy about the Civil War made the thought of war much more palatable and still got the anti-war message across to the audience. Keaton had a nearly identical scene to Birth of a Nation where the Civil War had broken out and every able-bodied man rushed to the draft points so they could be the first person to enlist. Through much effort "Buster" Keaton gets to the draft window very first only to be told "no" because, unbeknownst to him, his train engineering skills were much more beneficial to the confederates then his fighting skills. This breaks his heart because he couldn't be the hero that his lovely girlfriend wanted. After he is spotted without a uniform he is told by the girlfriend's father that he is a disgrace to the family and never to show his face again until he was in uniform. At the very beginning of the film a intertitle tells us that Buster had only two loves in his life: The General (his locomotive) and his beautiful girlfriend. What Keaton displays about the social standards of heroism is that without a uniform you can't be a hero and without a uniform you are a coward and cowards do not make husbands, particularly for "hero's" daughters. The whole theory of join the army or you're a coward takes one of buster's loves away and he has nothing left at that point except the General. Once the opposing army steals the General, Buster busts into action to save his train. Through his slips, trips, gags, stunts, misfortunes and strokes of luck buster some how saves his train, becomes a "hero" and saves the southern army, not because he loved the cause or the country but because he loved his train. With his newfound heroism, Buster gets the girl, the much-coveted uniform, and the train he repeatedly risked his life for. Keaton states here that you can become a hero without a uniform just by following what you truly believe in, without getting yourself killed or maimed. The depiction of heroism in the general and birth of a nation is very similar however buster Keaton's display was much more fantasy oriented and fun. The real world threat of war made "Birth" very realistic but due to the extreme length of the film and the all too real tone the audience must have been much more moved by Birth. Birth of a Nation made heroism seem quite futile by punishing the "heroes". The General made heroism seem simple and fruitful, but not for the war hero's who were dead or injured, but for the man of true heart and love. Both films limn there is no heroism in war. Maybe they were right too, because have you ever met a war hero that was completely functional and right in the head? If it is necessary to be maimed, shot or killed I personally want no part of heroism. Keaton and Griffiths both seemed to feel the same. . films, but the theory of heroism is much different toward the end of the films. The heroism concept portrayed in Birth of a Nation is one of pure and true. The Farce of Heroism The concepts of heroism in war depicted in Birth of a Nation (1915) and The General (1927) are much the same throughout the two