Allegory is a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms. In the film Apocalypse Now we see a different perspective of the Vietnam War. We see Americans attacking villages to go surfing and sent out on mission to find fellow Americans. Not only did specific scenes show allegory but the movie as a whole showed symbolism through the effects of the war.
Not only were Americans going after innocent villages, the movie shows how they were uncontrollable. Even when it is not fighting, for example, the scene when they have a playboy bunny show, it turns into uncontrollable chaos and the bunnies have to leave. Just like how Vietnam has been treated by the U.S. Soldiers. They are tearing through and taking everything on their way. They don’t want to be here and neither do the dancers but it is expected of both of them.
The scene when the men are taking the trip up the river also has symbolism. Just like the Vietnam War the trip is becoming increasingly deadly the farther they go. They finally run into combat at the Do Long Bridge, which is the American post. I also saw the name of the bridge as being symbolic because while it means something else in Vietnamese it can signify how long the U.S. stayed and fought since that was the American outpost.
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