Most people go through life taking the easy path. They will do anything to avoid strain or conflict, even if it means doing the wrong thing. The lead character in the movie Braveheart, William Wallace, was not one of these people. He could have lived a long full life, but died for what he believed in. Wallace understood Scotland should be free to govern itself without English intervention. He gave everything he had and eventually himself for this cause. Through vivid battle scenes, sorrow, hate, and finally victory, Braveheart illustrates how we should stand up for our pride and country no matter what the consequences.
Braveheart is a historical epic and is set in the Scottish highlands in the Year 1280 AD. During the opening of the film Wallace finds his childhood sweetheart, Murron, and the two quickly fall in love. Within the village there are murmurs of a revolt against the English, but Wallace expresses strongly that he wants no part in it, wishing simply to tend his crops and live a simple life in peace.
Wallace’s dream of peace is shattered when his wife Murron is killed by the English. From this moment on Wallace springs to action by slaying the English with some help from the villagers. This is the beginning of Wallace’s campaign to free Scotland against English rule. Against all odds, Wallace eventually leads his fellowcountrymen into a bloody victory against the English.
The question of consequence comes up in every soldiers’ mind. They ask themselves “Is this battle worth dying for?” The outnumbered Scottish had a good reason to be debuting themselves. The English were better trained, organized, and possessed superior weapons. Even if the Scottish did fight, they may still loose the battle. Promisingly, with his thick Scottish accent Wallace calmed his men by shouting, “Aye, fight and you may die, run and you’ll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom?!’’ Following this speech the men rush into battle and fight with a passion they never knew they possessed.
Wallace needed cooperation of the whole Scottish army if he had even a chance of winning. During a heated battle some of the Scottish Nobles pulled their men out of the conflict. They had been bribed by the English and didn’t have the desire of being free, only the desire of being rich. Shortly after the horrible loss on the battle field, Wallace went against the leader of his own countrymen for the good of the cause. He found some of these nobles and killed them himself, but spared one. Wallace told the remaining noble ’’You’re so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from [the English king] Longshank’s table that you’ve missed your God-given right to something better. There is a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.”
Wallace’s last indication of ambition was his refusal to ask the king of England
for forgiveness. Before his execution the princess visited him in the dungeon. Having mercy on Wallace she offered him numbing medical. He refused to take it, claming it would dull his wits. She began to cry over his certain death the following day but Wallace said to her ’’Every man dies, not every man really lives.’’ He knew that what he had done made a difference, and even while being tortured to death Wallace never regretted living his dream.
Braveheart shows us that you need to stand up for what you believe in. Wallace’s soldiers were afraid, but they could go into battle knowing they were doing the right thing. And Wallace even after being betrayed and tortured stuck to what he believed in. His goal helped him justify his life and make dying an even greater honor.