I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: Honor. - Simon Graham. As stated in Webster’s Dictionary, a hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. The Last Samurai is a movie set in post-Civil-War, Japan. The movie depicts two heroes, American veteran, Nathan Algren and Japanese Samurai, Katsumoto. The men's heroic characteristics are very different including motivations, values, and compassion toward others. On the other hand, the two share similar qualities. The distinctions and comparisons between Nathan and Katsumoto mold them into epic heroes from opposite sides of the world.
Nathan Algren, the Civil war veteran is a classic American hero in the movie. Nathan is sent to Japan to help with Japan’s westernization. While there, he is portrayed as a hero due to his war accomplishments. Algren is motivated by doing the right thing. He committed a very bad deed…show more content… At the beginning of the movie Katsumoto is a villain due to his rebellion about westernization. Katsumoto has a very strong motivation for his heroic acts. He wants to rebel against the Japanese businessmen and save his home. The Lord’s values are showed when he tells of his loyalty to the emperor. He tells that even though he does not agree with his choices he would give up his life if the emperor implemented it. He is the leader of the samurai rebellion, but his values are ancient Japanese, “his devotion to the emperor”. This trait waivers his heroic acts because the emperor is the reason for the rebellion. Katsumoto does not show much compassion throughout the film. The one time this characteristic is shown is when he is dying at the end with his unlikely friend, Nathan Algren. The thought that he is a villain is changed during the movie and he comes out as a hero alongside
