Apocalypse Now illustrates the horror and the absurdity of war, but most important it portrays war’s damaging psychological effects. The characters’ seem to fall into literal and metaphorical darkness and fog and that is ironic because the film suggests that war indulges the darkest, foggiest parts of human nature. Willard is a man already a little crazy because his first tour in Vietnam. His behavior in the hotel room immediately raises questions as to his sanity. He can barely stand up and he punches his fist into a mirror, destroying himself symbolically. It's almost like he can't wait to get back to the jungle. This scene illustrates war’s capacity to change a person’s psyche completely. Willard can no longer lead a normal life within civilization. He has tried and failed, and now he feels compelled to return to war.
It is very evident how war can change a person's thought process and personality and not only does Willard experience this, but so does his crew-mates. When Willard first gets on the boat, the crew- members seem excited about the journey ahead of them. Lance, unaffected by the war around him, is busy with his tan. Clean is clueless about combat, but still gets thrilled about the radio. Chef is so much in denial that he thinks it perfectly fine to go on a mango hunt in the middle of the jungle at night. Chief seems too calm and optimistic, but this all changes once the journey begins. Each character goes basically insane. Lance begins to take various drugs. By the end of the film he is seen wearing a loincloth and face paint. Clean loses his sanity during the inspection of the sampan, firing his gun and losing control. Chef reaches his breaking point after an experience with a tiger, and Chief experiences an intense emotional breakdown when Clean is killed by an enemy. This film really captures the psychology of soldiers after the war and how they deal with everything they have been through.
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