Blood Diamond – A character Analysis

Section C Group 5

Introduction

Focuses on the Illegal Diamond Trade in Sierra Leone

Used to sponsor the civil warQuest for pink diamondAnalysis of key characters and how their

individual choices and decisions are influenced by external factors

Factors affecting the characters and the system

External Factors• War in Sierra Leone• UN Presence• Diamond Trade

Influencing Factors• Struggle for

Independence• International policies• Consumer Demand,

Arms Supply

Results• Fractured Society• UN Sanctions• Prolonged Conflict,

Natural Resource exploitation

Character Analysis

Danny Archer Mercenary, very smart, improvises when needed Good negotiator, tries to get the best deal, risk taking Seems OK with double –crossing people Has High MACH Lost both his parents in tragic circumstances, no family

now Despite being a soldier, has no faith in the ongoing

war, killing etc. Experiences some kind of emotional dissonance.

Unhealthy motivation Undergoes Ethical transformation

Solomon Vandy

Poor Mende fisherman; finds the diamondVery protective of his family, wants the future to be

better. Wants Dia, his son to become a doctorCompassionate, courageous, has integrityCan be naïve and childlike in simplicity yet astute

enough to suspect ArcherGreat amount of self respect Major Driving Factor:

oLove for family: goes to great extremes to find themoVery strong emotions and sense of duty

Maddy Bowen

Profession: Journalist Upbringing: Daughter of a war veteranPersonality traits: a) wants to make a differenceb) street smartc) wants to unearth the illegal diamond trade d) knows how to get the truth out of peoplee) ‘Action Junkie’f) Emotional

Maddy’s Motivation (Vroom’s Expectancy Theory)

Effort

Performance

Reward

Personal Goal

If she goes to Sierra Leone, she will be able to get substantial evidence on blood diamond

If her report is published, she will be able to unearth the illegal trade

Her personal goal to bring a change in the world would be satisfied

Dia Vandy

Son of Solomon Vandy Bright student, attached to family parents wanted him to become a Doctor In the identity vs Role confusion stage; Taken away from family by the RUF ; loses his identity/innocence and became ruthless ; confused RUF through coercive persuaion makes him a killer Becomes “Captain Dia”, “see me no more” Gets into drugs/alcohol Refuses to reconcile with Solomon, calls him a traitor Seems confused as to what he is, a terrorist or an innocent

boy, pulls a gun on his own father Rediscovers himself after his father’s emotional persuasion

Benjamin

A resident of Sierra LeoneHumanitarian and believes that “people are

inherently good” He sees RUF child soldiers as innocent children,

psychologically conditioned to kill peopleRuns rehabilitation camp to bring them back to

mainstream life Risks his life by being so trustful, gets shot in the

end but remains empathetic to child soldiersGreatly influences Danny in his reformation

BIG FIVE analysis

Archer Maddy Solomon Benjamin

Extraversion

Agreeableness

Conscientiousness

Emotional Stability

Openness to Experience NA NA

RUF (“Shed their blood!!”)

Social Climate ◦ Big Impact of RUF on people.

Motto (so called)◦ Work against the government and for people.

Methodology ◦ Gain power, control the diamond trade.◦ Psychologically condition children.

Probable reasons for directionless efforts◦ Lack of leadership with a wider vision, absence of a role

model.◦ Deficiency of ethical or moral values.◦ Shortsightedness.

RUF Operations: “Very Smart!!”

Going Nowhe

re

Conclusion

Talks about ethical issues, motivation(healthy and unhealthy), selfish actions leading to chaos, atmosphere created by lack of morals and values, the courage of ethical people etc

Labor(forced)

Smugglers

Officials(Corrupted)

Illegal Diamond trading Companies Almost every one in the movie wanted the Diamond for some reason Human price paid for diamonds Valuable diamonds or lives of families ?