What is the significance of Tom Hanks' character having Parkinson's in Saving Private Ryan?
September 26th, 2010
I was just wondering if there is anything symbolic about Tom Hanks’ character Captain John Miller in Saving Private Ryan having Parkinson’s disease. Those things aren’t usually random, what does it mean?
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He didn’t have Parkinson’s Disease, he was nearing the end of his ability to be a soldier. Everyone has a breaking point, and Tom’s character was approaching his. Back then, they called it ‘battle fatigue’ and considered it cowardice. In WW I, they called it ‘shell shock.’ Today, we call it Post Trauma Stress Disorder, and Hank’s character had it.
Doesn’t it show how he struggles to do simple things?
light a cigarette, aim his gun?
(its been a few years since i last saw it)
I don’t remember they saying it was Parkinson’s, I thought it was stress related, in any case it shows that he’s human and that like everybody else he got affected but still he managed to do his duties despite his personal problems.