MovieChat Forums > Full Metal Jacket (1987) Discussion > Why did Joker show no signs of PTSD? SPO...

Why did Joker show no signs of PTSD? SPOILERS

posted 8 years ago by liamstepp
28 replies | jump to latest

He witnessed Private Pyle blasting away his drill instructor with an assault rifle and then blowing his brains out all over the latrine. Then in the second half he is goofing it up as a military journalist like he has no post-trauma stress. If I witnessed a murder-suicide, I'd be horrified for years just as so many veterans that returned from Vietnam. Joker turned out to be the main character but we were more concerned with the Sergeant and Pyle.

Awesome movie though.

[–] PaladinNJ (21772) 3 years ago

No idea how much time had passed from the Pyle incident to him going to Vietnam. He may have been hardened by what he saw there or he used humor as a coping mechanism.

At least you got confirmation that it was not a plot hole.

[–] Tonyharrison (178) 2 years ago

I suspect that in Vietnam, he was in "fight or flight" mode. I haven't studied psychology before but I'm guessing that people with PTSD don't have breakdowns until they clearly have escaped danger and until then, the adrenaline and denial/dissociation keeps them going. But his entire unit looked like they were at breaking point at the end when they are all singing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song.