Humanity Values In War: The Portrayal Of Desmond Doss In Hacksaw Ridge ( 2016 )

Abstract

This This research aims to analyze the portrayal of humanity values through the character of Desmond Doss in the movie Hacksaw Ridge (2016). Specifically, this study identifies the humanity values reflected in Desmond Doss’s actions, decisions, and interactions, examines the factors influencing him to maintain these values during war, and determines the dominant humanity values represented in the film. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a qualitative content analysis approach. The primary data consist of dialogues, scenes, actions, and visual representations from Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson. The data were collected through documentation by repeatedly watching the movie, selecting relevant scenes, transcribing dialogues, classifying the data, and interpreting them using characterization theory by Kennedy and Gioia (2016), moral values by Lickona (1991), and moral development by Kohlberg (1981). The findings reveal that Desmond Doss demonstrates compassion, empathy, sacrifice, responsibility, respect for human life, moral courage, peacefulness, and selflessness. His values are influenced by religious beliefs, moral convictions, family upbringing, ethical responsibility, and humanitarian commitment. Compassion and sacrifice emerge as the dominant values. The study concludes that Hacksaw Ridge portrays humanity as moral resistance against violence and demonstrates that humanitarian principles can survive in wartime.