Sacrifice on Man on Fire

Sacrifice is an unselfish act that benefits somebody else besides yourself. It’s not about trading; it’s about giving without expecting something in return. In “Man on Fire”, Creasy sacrifice didn’t come from violence, it came from unconditional love.

In the beginning, Creasy seemed to care for little of anything, anyone, much less himself. Creasy was an ex-CIA officer and a former U.S Marine Force Recon who went to Mexico to meet his friend Paul Rayburn, who runs a security firm. Since there is an extremely high rate of kidnappings in Mexico City for ransom money, Samuel Ramos hires Mr. Creasy through Rayburn's agency to guard his nine-year-old daughter, Pita. Besides, Mr. Ramos intended to keep Creasy for a short period of time. Creasy was suicidal and suffered from alcoholism, depression, and guilt as a result of his past job as an assassin; he had no sympathy for the world. Even though John was overqualified and was going to get paid way below what he would originally ask for, he took the job because he had nothing else to live for. Besides, being a bodyguard wouldn't require him to go back into being the assassin he was before. Creasy knew this would only be temporary, so he decides to distance himself socially and emotionally from Pita.

The pure love of an innocent child has the power to change even the most bitter person. Creasy was annoyed by Pita when he first met her. But slowly he puts his guard down and opens up to her. Pita changes Creasy’s behavior, making him live and smile again. For example, when Creasy was driving Pita to her piano lessons and she kept asking him questions, he responded by saying, “I am not being paid to be your friend, so no more questions.” Creasy was a curiosity for Pita and she knew she would eventually own his heart.

In every story that involves sacrifice, the main character often shows a way of redemption. At the end, Creasy was ready to sacrifice his life for Pita. He had finally found a meaning to his life, something that he hadn't felt before. After a long life full of violence and remorse, he knew that it was Pita’s turn to have a life of her own. Even though he wasn’t sure if Pita was still alive, he was determined to take a risk in order to find peace for both: her mother and himself. At the end of the movie, it shows Creasy walking down a bridge, you could see three vehicles waiting for him. As he approaches the vehicles, his face shows relief as he sees Pita getting out the car. Pita runs and hugs him, at the moment he realizes that his sacrifice was worth it. Seeing Pita’s smile brought him a sense of fulfillment, he was ready to “go home” even if that meant death.

In the end, sacrifice is not something you live for; it’s something you die for. Sacrifice can come and end in many ways, but it takes love, courage, and determination to do so. Creasy expressed the true meaning of sacrifice, however, Pita showed him the purpose of his life.