Similarities and Differences

 Author's note:

In social studies we had to read a book abut the Revolutionary War, then do a compare and contrast it to the movie The  Patriot. I compared it the book Forge. Both stories have sad, and happy parts, but end up peaceful. Both main characters show great courage in the face of adversary, but not always in the way we would expect.

The Revolutionary War was of the most pivotal wars in our world’s history. And it has inspired countless books, and movies on its subject. Two of which are the book Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson, and the movie The Patriot. 

The Patriot

In The Patriot, the main character, Benjamin, is a war veteran, and now lives in South Carolina, with his 7 children. His youngest child has not talked to him since his wife died, and for the better part of the movie, does not say a word to anyone. Against his will his oldest son joins the continental army. Reluctantly after his son returns home only to be captured by the British, does he decide to join the war.

His second oldest son is killed in front of him trying to keep the soldiers from taking his brother. Benjamin and his sons ambush the convoy taking his son, and kill every single troop, accept one, who later tells of being attacked by a “ghost.” After recovering, Benjamin, and his son Gabriel, re-join the army and lead a militia force.

The small militia force defeats countless British convoys with tactics, now known as Guerilla warfare. They end up acquiring multiple personal items of Gen. Cornwallis, including a pair of Great Danes. Benjamin uses these to re-claim some of his captured soldiers.

Eventually Gabriel gets married to a childhood friend, and gets to enjoy marriage for a few days, before his wife, and her family and friends are burned alive in a church. In the next few days Gabriel seeks vengeance against the man who took his brother, home, and wife. He shoots him, but is stabbed to death by the British officer. Benjamin, upon witnessing this now seeks vengeance of his own.

Benjamin, now leads the last remaining militia in the most important battle they had ever been in. Colonel Tavington, the man who killed his  sons, personally targets Benjamin. The two engage in a duel, where Tavington causes Benjamin to loose his tomahawk and prepares to finish him. Benjamin spins around and stabs him with a bayonet. The two both lock eyes as Benjamin delivers the coup de grace, stabbing his throat. Justifying his son's deaths. The battle is won as French troops arrive to help the Americans. Eventually  due to the fighting, Cornwallis is forced to surrender. A bunch of farmers had just won the freedom for an entire nation.

Forge

In the book Forge, the main character, Curzon is a past war veteran, but not the same as Benjamin. He is as was a slave. He thought fighting in his masters place would grant him freedom, he was wrong. So he ran away to the war, where he joins the military as a Private.

Everything seems to be going fine, until his master shows up as a general. His master, Bellingham, invites him to spend the day at his mansion. Curzon, not knowing what he was

When arriving at Bellingham’s, mansion he is greeted happily by Bellingham. After a meal, and some talk, Bellingham states that Curzon will be staying with him. Curzon tries to resist and run away but he is just caught by guards.

Curzon is forced to live there for about one month, until Bellingham orders for another slave. He ends up getting the little girl that helped Curzon escape Bellingham in the first place. He name was Isabel, and she was just as surprised to see Curzon as he was, but did not show any emotion on her face. They are both forced to serve under Bellingham, and any generals that would stop by.

In the coming months, the army force Curzon used to be a part of moves to their area. Curzon is able to meet up with one of his old friends, and manages to hatch a plan to escape, slavery, both him and Isabel. After weeks of planning and waiting the two finally escape captivity and head toward the military camp. Finally… they were both free.

Conclusion

In both The Patriot, and Forge, the main characters are fighting for what they believe in, and for those they love. Benjamin fought for the vengeance of his sons, and for his family. Whereas Curzon was fighting for his own freedom, which was unheard of in this era. Both of these stories depicted of ordinary men fighting for something more than what they had. But they had one thing in common that was the most important, they were fighting for a new nation of freedom.