Platoon - Characters & Cast

Initially driven by patriotism and a desire to escape his privileged life; later driven by a primal need to survive and a desire to avenge Elias.

Starts as an idealistic college dropout who volunteered to "do his part." He is quickly broken by the physical and mental toll of the jungle. Caught between Elias and Barnes, he eventually succumbs to the war's brutality, committing murder to exact justice, and leaves as a "survivor" burdened with the task of finding meaning in the ashes.

Survival and total dominance. He believes he is the only one capable of keeping the platoon alive through sheer force of will.

Barnes is static; he is already fully formed as the avatar of war's cruelty. He believes in the necessity of ruthlessness to survive. His arc is one of exposing his total lack of moral boundaries, eventually turning his violence against his own men to maintain control.

To protect his men and retain a shred of human decency in an inhuman environment.

A battle-hardened veteran who has not lost his humanity. He acts as the spiritual father to the "heads" (the pot-smoking group). He openly challenges Barnes's war crimes, which leads to his betrayal and death, elevating him to a mythic, martyr status.