Deer Hunter answer

Rating: Null/10 (14 December 2006)

Dear Mr. Crave My name is Tom Stabler and I am in your Block 2, Day 2 Film Studies class. In response to question 4: Why does Mike go back to Vietnam to find Nike? Mike goes back for Nike because Mike had always lived his life by doing exactly what he was supposed to do and how he was supposed to do it. He structured every aspect of his life and when he failed to return home with Nike the first time, he had to go back to save his friend and feel fulfilled. Mike used the term "one shot," where if you can't get a deer in one shot, then you shouldn't be shooting at all. Mike used this with the rest of his life, for example, when one of Mike's friends forgot his boots, Mike refused to give him his extra boots. He believed that if you forgot anything important for hunting, then you shouldn't be hunting at all. Also when Mike was playing Russian roulette, he knew he had to get more bullets into the gun to survive and if he didn't get more bullets in, then he knew he would die in the POW camp. Mike went back to get Nike because he promised him that no matter what he would bring him back from Vietnam, dead or alive. When Mike came back he hadn't kept his promise to his friend. This is symbolized when Mike goes hunting, has a clear shot at a good deer, but purposefully misses because of his "one shot" motto. If he didn't keep his promise to his friend, then he shouldn't be doing anything else until he does bring Nike back. So, Mike goes back to bring his friend back, even though he brings him back in a coffin.