// War Literature

Syriana is not just about the conflict in the Middle East and the fight over oil but it is also about the wars that we all face on an individual basis. Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon) faces wars on several fronts. He has to deal with the loss of his son, decisions about his career, and his relationship with his wife. Bob Barnes (George Clooney) faces many problems within his career as a CIA operative as many people turn their back on him. Bennett Holiday must prove himself as a capable Washington lawyer while dealing with his alcoholic father. The Pakistani worker, Wasim (Mazhar Munir), fights to make a living as a Pakistani in an Arab country while figuring out how he can make a more meaningful life.

It is this idea of making one’s life meaningful that influences the way the characters deal with their problems. Woodman, Holiday, and Prince Nasir are ambitious men who strive to do well in their jobs and make a change in the world around them. While doing this, they are faced with many decisions that conflict with their values. Most of them choose to clash with their values so that they can realize some sort of gain in their lives. Eventually their decision to go against their values leads to their demise, which somewhat reminds me of the concept of hubris.