How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Platoon.
Quote #4
TAYLOR: Barnes was at the eye of our rage, and through him, our captain Ahab, he would set things right again, that day we loved him.
The reality of the war changes from time to time for Taylor. One day it's hell, another day it's straight from Melville's Moby Dick. The ways in which Taylor's perspective shifts imitates the horrific uncertainty of the jungle and the war.
Quote #5
ELIAS: Lieutenant, why the f*** didn't you do something?
WOLFE: What are you talking about ?
ELIAS: You know what the f*** I'm talking about
WOLFE: No I don't, I don't know what the f*** you're talking about
Lieutenant Wolfe believes what he wants to believe, and he wants to look the other way with regards to Barnes' murder of an innocent civilian. In his reality, nothing wrong happened. In his reality, there's no reason to file a report against a guy like Barnes, the platoon's natural leader.
Quote #6
RHAH: And dig this you assholes, and dig it good, Barnes been shot 7 times and he ain't dead, does that mean anything to you, huh? Barnes ain't meant to die. The only thing that can kill Barnes, is Barnes
Rhah summarizes the reality of Barnes to which many of the platoon's soldiers subscribe: Barnes is a guy straight out of a myth. It's like he can't die, even though he's been shot 7 times. He seems immortal, his only real enemy himself.