Upamanyu Biswas
Set against the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, ‘The Patriot’ tells the story of Benjamin Martin, a widowed war veteran who forgoes his violent past by pursuing a peaceful life in his South Carolina homestead with his children. After a series of tragic events, Benjamin questions his commitment to stay out of the war against the British as the battle comes to his doorstep in an ugly manner. While he remains opposed, his eldest son, Gabriel Martin, forges on a path of bravery and stalwart zeal toward the cause as he joins the army against his father’s wishes. The boy grows into a man while serving in the Continental Army, learning the devotion needed to stay true to his patriotic convictions. Thus, decoding his origins tells us the reality of his depiction and whether he was truly a part of history.
Gabriel Martin’s Origins as a Fictional Soldier
Benjamin Martin’s firstborn son, Gabriel Martin, is a fictional character in ‘The Patriot,’ created by scriptwriter Robert Rodat under
Roland Emmerich’s direction. The film’s ties to historical accuracy remain tumultuous, which assigns its characters a similarly hot-and-cold connection to reality. Although the tale’s protagonist, Benjamin, sports some references to real-life historical figures, he retains a level of fictionality in several aspects of his story. His narratively instrumental relationship with Gabriel is one such element, which cements the latter’s confinement to fictitious origins.
When the film begins, Gabriel is a strong-willed, opinionated 18-year-old who is itching to join the Patriotic sentiments. As war against the British forces looms over the horizon, the boy opposes his father’s reluctance to join the war, needling him constantly that it is their duty to help the cause. After a general assembly is held at Charlestown, Gabriel enlists with the army and serves in the Continental faction under George Washington for two years. During this period, he grows into adulthood while facing numerous defeats against the British redcoats and the Loyalist faction who drives back Washington’s forces.
In an interview, Rodat revealed that the character plays a pivotal role in bringing the father-son story depicted in ‘The Patriot’ to life, but with a subtle twist. As Benjamin Martin fathers seven children, a burden that weighs him down with parental obligations over his patriotic fervor, his son has to pick up the slack. “I thought it would be interesting to have the teacher, in this case, be the son,” Rodat said. “Gabriel is a decent, moral guy, and he wears that mantle of principle and responsibility more easily than his father does.” Director Roland Emmerich also added, “There’s an assumption that everybody’s patriotic, and not everybody is. This movie is called ‘The Patriot,’ but Benjamin Martin is not a patriot. He knows what war is and feels that we should avoid it under all circumstances.”
Thus, the film’s title is not a reference to Benjamin but to his son Gabriel, who reminds him of his overarching responsibilities. After the passing of many moons, the protagonist has left his violent past behind, looking for a new, peaceful existence. Instead, those ideas of fighting for a cause are now what drives his son, Gabriel, who takes after him.
Gabriel Answers the Call When War Comes Knocking
Gabriel knows that his father played a part during the French and Indian War, despite how secretive he is about it. However, he is also aware that Benjamin is a hero of sorts, admiring his courage and perseverance. It is something the son wishes to emulate himself, but he has trouble connecting with his father on the topic. “While Gabriel is growing up, he hears these fantastic war stories, and it’s all very heroic and glorious to him,” said Heath Ledger, who plays Gabriel. “His father knew better, knew how gory it could be. He doesn’t want to put his son in that situation. I think all parents and children go through that sort of thing at some point. Gabriel represents the new generation. He believes strongly in the new ideals of the new country. So he defies his father to go to war.”
As the Continental Army was reportedly made up of men from the ages of 15 to 40 from the Thirteen Colonies – South Carolina included – it is plausible that Gabriel could have served as he met both those requirements and also had training in various skills from his father. During his enlistment with them, Gabriel spends two years on the frontlines, watching his friends and colleagues die. He becomes inundated with the pain of being on the losing side. Things don’t go well, so much so that he has to return home as the English army drives them back. Still, it doesn’t break his resolve or his firm dedication to his belief, a principled outlook that forces his father to reconsider his personal reasons for not joining the war and lending a hand.
Therefore, Gabriel’s conception as a made-up character within the ranks of the Continental Army plays a particular purpose within the narrative – to spark Benjamin into action and take his son’s side in the war. Although history does not contain any records of Gabriel Martin, his characteristics are grounded in the father-son narrative of ‘The Patriot,’ despite his genesis remaining tied to the realms of fiction.
Read more: Is The Patriot Based on a True Story?
