Duality of Man

This idea of the duality of man is referenced in the film Full Metal Jacket, in the conversation between a Pogue Colonel and Private Joker. The term duality of man is said to be invoked with Private Joker's wearing of a peace badge, whilst his helmet reads "born to kill", conveying what appears to be two different types of view. This is to reflect two sides of man and how we change or adapt to our conditions and environment. It promotes how good men with a strong sense of morality can be recondition into unjustifiable killers. The idea of being recondition, processed and stricken of individual identity, is reinforced through the opening scene, which captures a montage of new recruits having their heads shaven, with no one focus on anyone in particular. The same applies to the constant abuse the recruits receive from the drill sergeant.

The audience gets drawn into the excitement in the final scenes, as the platoon are pinned down by a sniper in a distant building. As they proceed into the building after having lost a couple of men, they locate the sniper. On revealing the sniper, as she lies on the ground fattily wounded, they discover that the sniper is in fact a woman. Upon this discovery, the audience then feel guilt after having been roped into the excitement of the conflict. Linking back to the Duality of Man, we see compassion coming through from Private Joker, who hesitates a long while before shooting the sniper, to put her out of her misery and rid her of the pain. He is still reluctant in shooting a woman, which demonstrates a duality of man in the way characters act even after they have been reconditioned.