Hall: witness

John Book's world is turned topsy turvy when he finds out his trusted confidant, police chief, and former partner has gone rogue and entered the world of 'dirty' cops. He becomes, in some sense, trapped in the world of the Amish when he receives a debilitating injury and is forced to accept help or die. I think this shows the first change in Book's character. When he is first introduced in Witness he is portrayed as an impulsive, think first ask questions later, kinda guy. He definitely sees himself as a lone wolf; a person who does not need or ask for the help of others. The audience can see through this guise, but the important thing is that Book, himself, is not able to admit to this. It is only once he is completely at the mercy of the kindness and communal sense of the Amish people that he is forced to recognize the importance of community. Book must change to not only recognize the importance of communal help, understanding, and generosity in humanity, but also as a trait or characteristic that he wants to be and is a part of. I'm not saying that the portrayal of chaotic city and idyllic Amish life is completely off the reservation, but I do think this movie makes great effort to show the isolation of Book's city life and the community of Book's Amish life for a reason. Book must embrace the idea that no man is an island (despite how some might interpret Simon and Garfunkle). This is one of the most significant changes I saw in his personality and one that is emphasized throughout the movie.

Delving further into Book's relationship with others, at the same time his sense of community changes, he also learns that there are different reasons to respect others. He is definitely seen as having a moral code in the beginning of the movie (reinforced by his sister's assertion that her brother could never do anything illegal), but this does not extend to acceptance of the way in which others live. This is seen in his initial treatment of Rachel and Samuel, and even in the way that he treats his own sister. Respect is definitely a part of the Amish code, by entering their world, he has to learn that there are other ways to live and other ways to do things (one of the ways he shows this respect is in his relinquishing of his gun to Rachel in the beginning of the movie). This is a key element to the film, which is reinforced in the end when Book uses empathy instead of violence to stop the murderous police chief.
This is another way that Book changes. He learns to practice some sort of restraint and contemplation in his actions. At first he is incredibly impulsive, but Book learns how to think about his actions, this is seen in his relationship with Rachel and in how he doesn't immediately beat the impudent towny up. However, in this respect he does not change enough. Although he has developed a new contemplative aspect to his personality, it is this inability to completely show restraint and appreciate that there are always alternatives to violence that causes his intended murderers to find him in the Amish community. He is still unable to control his temper. This scene illicits an internal groan at the same time that you want Book to do something about the rudeness of the towny.