In Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Leonard Lawrence's experiences in basic training and death are the direct result of negligence on the part of the private Joker. In the film, Paris Island is described as a place where men are torn down and rebuilt as ruthless killers. The methods Marines use to train soldiers are proven and clearly work on the average person. However, Leonard Lawrence was no average man. For much of the film he is dejected, almost unaware of the gravity of his situation. When Hartman gives his first-day speech to the platoon, he insults and/or punishes every major character in the story, but Leonard's abuse immediately seems more violent. harder than the others. The criticism he receives from Hartman is just a taste of what's to come. The other men are impressed by Hartman's presence in the barracks. They are scared to death and completely focused on not becoming a target. Leonard smiles and requires violent physical intervention from Hartman to stop. From this first interaction, Hartman learns everything he needs to know about Leonard. He learns that, despite being dim and slow, Leonard can be molded. Hartman also learns that he will have to hit Leonard harder than most of the men in the platoon. During a marching exercise, when Leonard mistakes his right shoulder for his left, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman hits him twice in the face. He hits it so hard that the blow knocks Leonard's hat off. We immediately cut to a scene showing Leonard stumbling, pants down, thumb in mouth, following his platoon marching in unison. These punishments are far worse than any other punishment given to anyone during the film. Private Joker goes squad... middle of paper... a professionally trained killer could have run 10 feet in half a second and knocked Leonard out. Having lost his last chance, the private Joker stands like a statue awaiting the end. All hope is lost when Leonard loads the magazine and inserts the first round. There is no doubt that things have gone too far. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman bursts into the latrine and, amidst a barrage of verbal remarks about the current situation, asks Private Joker the question, "Why aren't you ripping Private Pyle's guts out?" Private Joker's failure to do just that cost the lives of two Marines that day. The cost of the Private Joker's actions and inactions would be high. He would have to live with them for the rest of his life. Works Cited Full Metal Jacket. Dir. Stanley Kubrick. 1987. Perf. Matteo Modine and Vincenzo D'Onofrio. Warner Home Video, 2007. DVD.