The Will to Survive

Rowe has a strong will to survive, the same will that is seen in several other prisoners. When Rowe is facing the threat of death because of dysentery and malnourishment, he fears the possibility of death and continues to fight for his survival. This will is so strong that Rowe forces himself to eat rice, day after day, in an effort to fight off the weakening of his body. This will to survive is second only to Rowe's honor and he continues to hold tight to his refusal to admit to "crimes" against the Vietnamese as his captors want. Even then, Rowe continues to seek a way to balance his refusal with what's being asked of him in an effort to live.

An interesting point is that Rowe tries to foster the will to survive in others, sometimes without success. When another of the prisoners...