From Here to Eternity Courage

Courage is super-hard, whether you're acting or resisting. Robert E. Lee Prewitt is courageous precisely because he won't be forced into boxing—he won't be bullied. He's stubborn, but for principled reasons—he wants to be true to himself and to his experiences.

At the end of From Here To Eternity we also see Sgt. Warden express courage, but he does it specifically by doing something. He takes charge during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, directing anti-aircraft fire and putting his own life at risk.

Questions About Courage

1. Who else demonstrates courage in From Here to Eternity, aside from Prewitt and Warden? How do they demonstrate it?
2. Would Prewitt have lacked courage if he decided to go back to boxing?
3. Do you think you would have the courage to do what Prewitt did and resist the officers' bullying? Why or why not?
4. Does Warden's courage increase during the film? If so, what makes him act more courageously?

Chew on This

Prewitt exemplifies Andrew Jackson's quote, "One man with courage makes a majority."

At the end of the movie, Prewitt and Warden both let their love and devotion to the army carry them into heroism, for the sake of their comrades. This shows a form of courage that benefits the whole.