About the description of Hot Lips and its transformation

Wayne 2021-12-31 08:01:59

Many people must be a little uncomfortable with the protagonist's behavior of teasing and mocking Hot Lips in the film. These behaviors, especially in a current situation where women's voices are emphasized, make people feel objectified and hate (a specific type) of women. But what Hot Lips represents in the film is not actually a woman, (otherwise there would not be so many female characters in stark contrast to her,) but a type of officer in the army who only pays attention to the regulations but "despises human nature". ["Despising human nature" in this context means "denying or ignoring the inevitable fallibility of people under certain conditions and requiring others to do their best at all times". As for this movie, it's like Hot Lips asked other soldiers to abide by the regulations when they first arrived at the field hospital. 】

These officials who "contempt human nature" because they did not participate in the war did not understand that the chaotic and crazy nature of war is completely opposed to the regulations that symbolize order and reason. Anyone who has been affected by the war for a long time will make the regulations because of the fallibility of human nature. Acts that conflict with the prescribed order, so they can stay out of the way and say arrogant and stupid things like abide by the rules all the time. Naturally, they and the soldiers who are on the front line and who are in the company of death all day long put them in a position of incompatibility. This is also why the soldiers in the film keep tricking Hot Lips—because only through the madness that tricks brought her to defeat Hot Lips' lawful rationality, can she truly understand the war (impact on other soldiers) and Incorporate into them.

From the results, they undoubtedly succeeded. Hot Lips at the end of the film has not only become the most active and crazy person in the football cheerleader (an activity not permitted by this regulation), she has also joined other soldiers' gambling activities. But from an objective point of view, maybe everyone has lost. The war killed people who might be unpleasant but very upright. Worse, it brought these people back to life and allowed them to survive in a crazy and chaotic manner.

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Extended Reading

MASH quotes

  • Trapper John: General, you can't blame Henry because Hot Lips can't stand her name.

  • Hawkeye Pierce: I know how we can make some money. We leave him...

    [points to Spearchucker]

    Hawkeye Pierce: out of the first half of the game, we bet half our money, they roll up some points. Now, second half of the game, we stick him in, we bet the other half of our money, we get odds from them, we clean up.

    Colonel Blake: That's very good thinking, Captain.