The Intricacies of Communication: A Few Good Men - Research Paper Example

?Dissecting the Intricacies of Communication in “A Few Good Men” In any situation, interpersonal communication is essential in order to get things done or to move forward from a certain stage of the interpersonal relationship to another. This involves people understanding each other well and sharing the same interpretation of the messages they exchange. Richmond & McCroskey (2005) define organizational communication as “the process by which individuals stimulate meaning in the minds of other individuals by means of verbal or nonverbal messages in the context of a formal organization” (p. 42). Some organizations may have smoother flow in their communication than others. In some interpersonal dealings, communication may develop complications due to a host of factors such as in the movie “A Few Good Men”. This paper shall attempt to dissect the elements of verbal communication especially in taking orders from a superior, the value of truth and honesty and gender differences in military work depicted in the movie. Lefebvre (2008) advises that when speaking, one must also be aware of body language and tone and inflection of voice. She notes that different ideas may be conveyed by simply emphasizing different parts of the statement. Being an active listener helps one understand the message being relayed to him. As the listener, one should hold his response until the speaker is done, and keenly observe nonverbal cues expressed. It must always be remembered that communication is a give and take process. One must learn to wait his turn to be the speaker and the listener (Lefebvre, 2008). This is especially important in courtrooms where cases are tried in order to find the truth, and if ever there is a crime proven, that the perpetrator should be punished and the victim be served the justice they deserve. This has been manifested in the movie “A Few Good Men” which showed several courtroom scenes in analyzing an alleged misdemeanor by two marines that eventually killed another marine within the confines of the marine base. The court scenes were played very well, giving each party a chance to express him or herself while on trial. However, there are times when both speaker and listener talk at the same time, trying to prove their point and talk over each other. Richmond & McCroskey (2005) contend that interpersonal communication in organizations can either go horizontally, or across co-workers who are considered equals in terms of position in the organization, and vertically, indicating a hierarchy in position that either goes upward towards higher management or downward, towards rank and file. Downward communication from management to the employees usually involves job instruction, rationale, ideology, information and feedback. This is most common in the military, where messages are often given as orders from someone from a higher position and is expected to be followed. In the movie, the two marines who allegedly killed a colleague were presumed to be doing so under orders from their superiors. Job instruction includes directions mandated by management such as direct orders, written memos, workshops on how to do the job, and so on. An example is how a marine should behave when there is an officer approaching. Rationale is the rationalization or explanation of a duty or assignment and how it is compatible with what the personnel are already doing. An example of this is explaining why one is posted in an area during his shift. Ideology is the philosophy of the organization that managers expect their employees to share. If they do believe in the same views, then communication would flow much easier within the organization. An example is that in the military, obeying orders from superiors is a must. Information is concerned with acquainting people with general knowledge that they need to know, such as regulations, changes in benefits, and general policies. Feedback is the superior's way of giving his subordinates information about how they are doing. This is usually expressed as praise, recognition, salary increase, criticism, a frown or a termination notice. Officers should provide feedback to their employees so that they would be guided well enough in their work performance. In the movie, the issue of following orders from an officer resulted in the death of a marine. A respected officer is accused abusing his position by ordering “code red” or the illegal hazing of a marine. This was the whole point of the trial. The movie “A Few Good Men” deals with several issues in the military that private citizens are not privy to. It offers dilemmas which are encountered and resolved within the confines of their camps and guarded firmly so as not to be leaked to society. The movie probes into the workings and political maneuverings of officers and its consequences on their subordinates. One of the most riveting scenes in the movie is Colonel Nathan R. Jessep’s (played by Jack Nicholson) address in court regarding accusations of him ordering “Code Red”. It deals primarily on how he sees how truth and honesty should be dealt with by a respected and feared military officer like himself who is given the overwhelming responsibility of handling it on his own. He believes he has the power to handle it, because lesser men such as Lieutenant Kaffee, (played by Tom Cruise) cannot handle the truth. The following is Col. Jessep’s moving speech: “Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall. We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to!” (A Few Good Men, 1992) Before Jessep finally answers the question of him ordering Code Red, he gives this preliminary speech to justify whatever answer he shall give. Truth has always been a mystery since the olden times. It is something that can “set one free”, or forever enslave the truth bearer. Being able to stand for the truth is a mark of courage, while holding on to a deep secret that may “make or break” a person may be an unbearable cause of suffering. Samuel Clemens’, a.k.a. Mark Twain’s anthology of his participation in the war efforts have revealed much about his insights of the camaraderie shared between men. Although it seemed honest and candid, the truth gets played around a lot in the delivery of this literary piece. This particular scene of the movie shows how the military whitewashes the truth in the guise of duty and giving honor to the country. The truth gets manipulated or exploited by powerful authorities who do so just because they have the right to do it. This “truth” is expected to impress, and hopefully, word gets spread out to a wider group of equally gullible people. Heads of nations have learned to spin the truth for the sake of their image and also their people. One example is Lyndon Johnson, who was one of the greatest truth spinners of all time. His presidential speech following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy was moving, although there were several half-truths thrown in that can only be noticed by his critics. His first sentence alone belied his satisfaction at being hailed president: “All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today.” He was referring to the loss of a dearly beloved president before him. Those first words can instantly be questioned by ambitious individuals because it is well known that the presidency is the most sought-after position in the land, so how can he imply that he preferred not to be standing in that position delivering his presidential speech? He repeats the same dramatic flair in the statement: “An assassin's bullet has thrust upon me the awesome burden of the Presidency.” It was true that by default, he would be president, but to say that it was thrust on him implied that he was unwilling. True, the presidency entails great responsibility, but because he could not openly express his joy in receiving it, he used the term “awesome burden” to keep with the sad theme of JFK’s death. Johnson’s engaging speech to the American people effectively touched them and gained their sympathy and respect for him. His plan would have worked as he already had his audience in the palm of his hands but Kaffee did not buy into it and returned him to the present reality and forced him to answer the simple question of whether or not the respected colonel ordered “Code Red”. Jessep was cornered into admitting to the truth that he indeed did. Another element in the movie is the issue of gender in the military.  Naval investigator and lawyer Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) is an exceptional lady in the military. Her position is something that not all women can reach. Some men try to belittle her such as Colonel Nathan R. Jessup who tried to evade answering her question of issuing the Code Red by being vulgar to her and attacking her womanhood with words. He said: “There is nothing sexier in this world, believe me, gentlemen than a woman that you have to salute in the morning. Promote them all, I say, coz this is true.. you haven’t gotten a blow job from a superior officer, well, you’re just letting the best in life pass you by” (A Few Good Men, 1992) . No matter what he said, Galloway was not fazed and remained steadfast in her questioning. In reality, most women will not react the same way. Some would be affected emotionally and allow their emotions to get in the way. Others may just lash out on Jessep or simply run away from the situation. Women are expected to be soft, and should they deviate from this expectation, and speak in a less feminine, more rogue manner, then they are not seen in a positive light. On the other hand, men are expected to speak in a low, booming voice that commands attention, as they are expected to adopt a more superior role and everyone is expected to bow to their commands. This was how Jessep spoke. Galloway also remained feminine but strong. She did not cave in to the provocation of Jessep and kept her focus on her questioning. There are some theories that gender differences may spring from a biological reason, that males are differently wired from females, that they might have more hormones that may trigger aggressive tendencies and other stereotyped behaviors for males. Other theories attribute gender differences in social learning, that boys and girls behave the way they do because they have been trained as society expects them to- that girls are “sugar and spice and everything nice” and boys are otherwise. Socio-linguistic theories have emerged in focusing on the difference in communication skills of males and females. It is believed that the gender differences stem from childhood and how boys and girls are treated differently. Baby girls are considered delicate and fragile and are therefore treated as such, being exposed to language that is gentle and handled with utmost care. On the other hand, boys, expected to grow up to be strong and masculine, are exposed to power-filled language punctuated with strong tones (Rasquinha & Mouly, 2005). The development of boys and girls is affected by the varying expectations that their parents, peers and society in general have for feminine and masculine behaviours. Hence, even the way people talk around them may be different (Maltz and Borker, 1982). It is commonly believed that girls mature earlier than boys and that they develop language earlier and faster. Leaper (1991) explains that at three years of age, little girls develop in terms of language and this helps them explore relationships with those around them. Girls use language that demonstrates attentiveness, responsiveness, and support. Boys, in turn, use language that demand attention, give orders, and establish dominance (Leaper, 1991). They engage in group activities with other boys and test out their ‘high’ and ‘low’ status roles: “I’m the leader”, “you follow me”, etc. They establish positions among the group and they are apparently louder, more physical and less verbal than girls (Rasquinha & Mouly, 2005). This is consistent with Eagly’s (2007) theory males develop agentic traits while females develop communal traits. Confidence, aggressiveness and self direction are some that fall under agentric male’s gender-specific traits. Softer traits such as kindness, concern for others, nurturance warmth and gentleness fall under female’s communal traits. As they transition to middle childhood, interaction strategies become more gender-differentiated. Whereas girls become more competent in collaborative strategies, boys stick to their reliance on domineering influence strategies. This is very much encouraged in male-dominated camps such as the military. In the movie, it was evident that the officers, especially Jessep communicated with a domineering stance. Bakan (1966) explained that boys are taught to value autonomy, competition and linear problem solving and such values are expressed by the encouragement of self-assertion and self-expansion (Mason, 1994). They grow up learning that information and communication relationships can be used to obtain power. On the other hand, girls are socialized to be more communal, valuing relationships and collaboration. Mason (1994) argued that the communal orientation is characterized by concern, selflessness, consideration for others and a desire to be one with them. Girls learn that communication is one avenue where relational bonds are strengthened, thus they learn to value it well (Chodorow, 1989). Galloway is one woman who can portray such consideration for others, but at the same time, she can see beyond her emotions. In a situation where the men, especially Kaffee, see dead lock, Galloway suggested an idea that could possibly lead them to the truth. Kaffee thought it was a ridiculous idea at first, but eventually gave in and realized she was right. This proves that if only men and women meet halfway, then, more problems can be solved since both genders have something to offer. As they grow up, more differences develop in terms of the speech of men and women. Tannen (cited in Rasquinha & Mouly, 2005), a professor of linguistics, theorized that as adults, men and women reproduce such behavior patterns. Grown-up men engage in 'one up' strategies that they have practiced as boys to position themselves in groups and women remember the kind of talk they used as little girls to build harmonious relationships with each other. Men focus on facts instead of feelings while women are the opposite. They expect their feelings to be acknowledged and supported. “Women speak and listen for a language of connection and intimacy. Men speak and listen for a language of status and independence” (Rasquinha & Mouly, 2005, p.10). Conclusion The movie “A Few Good Men” showcases several examples of interpersonal communication ranging from the simplest and most transparent ones where viewers can easily read the non-verbal cues of the actors even without their lines, as well as scenes which just state straight-to-the point verbalizations. However, as the plot is unraveled, more complicated communication becomes more difficult to follow as the truth and moral values are covered up by straight-faced talk by people who have been accustomed to lies and deception. For someone who is not acquainted with the practice of cover-ups and whitewashing the truth, being in the situation of Kaffee may be confusing and scary. There was a point in the movie when all he saw were dead ends that he decided to get drunk to numb the pain that they will lose the case. That scene, it itself, communicated to the viewers his sincerity, consideration and innocence in the face of adversity. The non-verbal gestures of the characters in the movie, most especially between the roles of Jessep and Kaffee in their court scenes, were delivered in a very powerful manner. Every look, pause, hesitation, etc. bespeaks of some unspoken truth beneath the strong exteriors of the characters. The effectiveness of Kaffee’s careful and focused questioning succeeded in finally getting Jessep to admit to the truth that he is guilty of the accusation of issuing the order of Code Red which eventually killed Santiago, the hazed marine. This is to show that if one stands up for the truth and does not waver in the intimidation of more powerful forces, then as the saying goes, the “truth shall set us free”. In the courtroom, Kaffee only saw the end goal of justice and was not intimidated by the position of the people he tried. For lesser men, they would have given in to the intimidation, afraid to lose their positions. It would have been easier to convict the two marines who killed Santiago, as murder is indeed a crime. However, the nature of the military embedded into the soldiers the law of obedience, sometimes, blind, and following orders meant doing their job. The strength of the woman character, Galloway, contributed to the integrity of the movie, as she quietly maneuvered Kaffee’s moves. She fed him information and suggestions that fueled his drive to succeed. The stereotype of women being the weaker sex was not depicted in this movie, instead, highlighted the strength of women. She may not have tried the case herself and deferred to a man, but her prodding and encouragement were key to winning the case. The complications of the interpersonal communication in the movie was what made it so interesting that it kept the audience at awe. However, in real life, it would be best if communication was kept simple, real and devoid of any dark lies. References A Few Good Men (1992) Comumbia Pictures. Bakan, D. (1966). The duality of human existence. Chicago: Rand McNally. Chodorow, N. (1989). Feminism and psychoanalytic theory. New Haven, CT; Yale University Press. Eagly, A.H. (2007) Female Leadership Advantage And Disadvantage: Resolving The Contradictions, Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31 (2007), 1–12. Leaper, C. (1991) “Influence and Involvement in Children's Discourse: Age, Gender, and Partner Effects”, Child Development, 1991, 62, 797-811 LeFebvre, K.B. (2008) Strengthen Your Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Oncology Nursing Society CONNECT September 2008 Maltz, D.N, and Borker, R.A. (1982) "A Cultural Approach to Male-Female Miscommunication."Pp. 196-216 in Language and Social Identity, edited by J. J. Gumperz. Cambridge,England: Cambridge University. Mason, E. S. (1994). Gender differences in job satisfaction. The Joumal of Social Psychology,135, 143-151. Rasquinha, D. & Mouly, S. (2005) “When Women Talk: What Do Leaders Sound Like?”, Organisational Culture, June 2005. Richmond, V.P. & McCroskey, J.C. (2005) Organizational communication for survival: making work,work. Retried on May 15, 2013 from http://www.ilstu.edu/~llipper/com329/mccroskey_chapter.pdf Read More