Running Head: REEL PAPER
Conan the Barbarian, COMM 1050
Russell E Feala
Salt Lake Community College
1

Running Head: REEL PAPER
I am using Burke’s Redemption Theory to explain the drama in the life and
2 events contained within the movie, Conan the Barbarian. I have chosen this theory because, honestly, it matches with the genre of movies I watch most often. This has been one of my favorite movies since my childhood. Burke’s theory of the Guilt-Redemption
Cycle is explained as the motivation that ultimately is used in all rhetorical situations to rid humans of their guilt, which is ever-present. Burke described guilt as tension, anxiety, embarrassment, shame, disgust and other negative feelings of a primal nature.
The author of this theory, Kenneth Burke, was born in 1897 and lived until 1993.
His theory of Dramatism- a theory used to describe what is observed when people are communicating-, which includes the Guilt-Redemption Theory, didn’t really catch on in the communications community until 1952, when Maria Hochmuth Nicoles brought to light the relevance of Burke’s theory. Kenneth Burke never graduated from college, although he did teach at Bennington College in Vermont. Burke thought that life was a drama and that we all get caught up in it rather than taking passive roles as listeners. The part of the Dramatist Theory I would like to hone in on when focusing on the movie,
Conan the Barbarian, is the idea of Victimage. Victimage is a process of placing or designating a person to blame for the ills of your life and finding redemption through this construct.
When Conan was young, his village in the hills of Cimmeria, was attacked suddenly by a group of warriors led by an evil sorcerer, Thulsa Doom. In the battle, his parents and the rest of the villagers were killed, save several children. Conan’s father’s

Running Head: REEL PAPER sword and other treasures were taken by the invaders. He and the children were enslaved
3 by Thulsa Dooms minions and forced to work in a mill and ultimately, fight to the death in pits. Conan was the lone survivor of this slavery. Conan was trained in the arts of battle from the leaders who dealt in death. He was taken to the East, to be trained in martial arts by the said masters. They ask him “What is best in life?”, to which Conan responds, “To crush the enemy, to see him driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!”, he is rewarded with laughter and praise. After Conan reached an impressive amount of honor upon his name through battles, his physique and martial skills, he was released by his master into the wilds of the north. He travels by foot through the world as a thief, always with the dream of avenging his mother, father, and people’s deaths. He happens across Subotai, an eastern rogue archer/ thief, and Valeria, an amazon warrior women, who are also wayward travelers. They are brought before a king and given a mission to rescue his daughter from the grips of the Cult of the Snake.
This cult is said to be overrunning many nations and are known to be led by Thulsa
Doom. Conan accepts the mission, knowing he will finally get a chance to kill Thulsa
Doom.
Conan and his band raid several strongholds of the cult and eventually infiltrate a main hideout of Thulsa Doom. Valeria, who has become a great love in Conan’s life is killed in the ensuing battle in the hideout. Conan makes ready a funeral pyre with Valeria atop. Thulsa Doom is seen to be her killer. This further ignites Conan’s vengeful fire.
Conan leaves his comrade Subotai in a search for Thulsa Doom. He meets a wizard,
Mako, who helps him focus his rage and points him in the right direction to his conquest.

Running Head: REEL PAPER
Conan is caught and hung from the Tree of Woe to die. In his hallucinating state, Conan
4 is rescued by Subotai and healed. Conan and his allies then make fortifications to deal with the eventual fray to come. Conan and his friends are victorious, but Thulsa Doom escapes once again.
Conan tracks down Thulsa Doom at one of his temples where he is giving a sermon to his followers. After sneaking in the temple and dispatching with all the guards,
Conan reaches Thulsa Doom on the balcony where he preaches. Thulsa Doom turns to meet him and tells Conan that he is Conan’s father. Conan is stunned in the process of this thought. Thulsa Doom says that “ Who is more of your father than I?”, “Who was it that gave you this body and the will to survive?”, Who else is more of your father than I, my Son?”. Conan realizes that this was a manipulation on the part of Thulsa Doom and decapitates him with the sword of Conan’s father, which was broken in the last battle with Thulsa Doom’s minions’.
This film was directed by John Milius. I believe the message he was conveying with this film was Neitzschian in nature. The often quoted “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger” mantra is a common theme presented. I agree with Frederich
Neitzsche’s quote, which appears in the lead- up credits to the feature. I think John Milius knew of this theory vaguely, as most director and movie makers are educated men and women. The film’s message jives with the theory I present because it demonstrates the drama of Conan’s life and the Guilt-Redemption Cycle which follows him throughout his adventures.

Running Head: REEL PAPER
The research connected with this paper enlightened and raised further questions
5 within me. Burke’s theory, as it is explained, seems rather out of our control. Like we as humans are defenseless against our fates’. Communications with others’ appear to be more scientific and less within my spectrum of control as a result. On the other hand, science is pragmatic and is subject to measurability. This gives me reason for less anxiety when communicating. This movies also says to me that communication is not always felt most via verbalization. The dialogue within this movie is sparse and yet, the rhetoric is felt none-the-less. Emotions a result of body language and looks are a way of communicating amongst Conan, mainly, and some other characters.
Conan could be said to be constantly victimized during the events of his adventures. A memorable quote which makes me think of this, is when Subotai asks
Conan, “ What Gods do you pray to?” to which Conan answers, “ Crom!, and he lives in the Earth,”,” But I seldom pray to him.”, Subotai asks why, and Conan responds with,”
He does not listen!”. They laugh, and Conan asks Subotai, “To what Gods do you pray?”.
Subotai tells Conan, “ I pray to the Four Winds.”, “My God is the everlasting sky!”.
Conan tells Subotai that, “Crom laughs at the Four Winds, laughs from his throne on the mountain!”, in his usual boisterous and bold manner. Subotai says, “Your God lives in the Earth, my God is the everlasting sky, Your God live beneath him.”, then chuckles.
Conan looks puzzled and a bit confused, but then an understanding of Subotai’s meaning that he and his God are less than he and his. This explains the victimization of Conan and the way that Conan helps the cycle recirculate. But even through all this, Conan

Running Head: REEL PAPER perseveres and strives to make his own destiny. Guilt, purification, and redemption are
6 constants in how we and Conan operate within our world.

Running Head: REEL PAPER
References
De Laurentiis, R. & Feitshans, B. (Producers), Milius, J. (1982). Conan the Barbarian [
Motion Picture]. United States: Universal Pictures.
7
Griffin, E. (2012). Chapter 23 Dramatism. A First Look at Communication Theory (8 th ed.) ( pgs. 299-307) . New York, NY: The McGraw- Hill Companies, Inc.