If you are a scapegoat or someone who loves a scapegoat you might want to watch this film to see how the game is played. The movie is not entirely true to life, and I will elaborate on that later, but this is a good example of one way the game of Scapegoat is played. Keep in mind that, just as in the film, no one is aware of playing a "game". All the players are quite sincere in their beliefs, behaviors and motives.
The primary players in this round of Scapegoat are the characters:
Lt. Comdr. Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart)
Lt. Steve Maryk (Van Johnson)
Lt. Keefer (Fred MacMurray)
Ensign Willis Keith (Robert Francis)
Lt. Commander Queeg takes over the command of the Caine and displays odd behavior as the result of previous battles he's participated. Maryk (the Scapegoat) is originally quite loyal to Queeg and defends him. Keefer (the Instigator) constantly works to inflame the crew against Queeg, labeling him "paranoid" and saying he has a "mental illness". He works on everyone, but he works the hardest on Maryk, possibly because Maryk is vulnerable to his influence and Maryk has the power to do something about it. Maryk starts to see things Keefer's way, starts reading a book on mental illness, reads the code Keefer has cited about taking over command of a navy vessel if the captain is impaired and starts keeping a journal of Queeg's behavior. Notice how Keefer's concern is acted upon, not by Keefer, but by Maryk. This is typical. The Scapegoat typically picks up the sword and shield and marches off into battle against some perceived foe or for some worthy cause - that is not his. He was usually O.K. with the situation until an Instigator flames the fires of self-righteous indignation and move the Scapegoat into action against something that is bothering the Instigator.
Notice also how blithely Keefer exerts his influence: 1. It is always behind the scenes. He never confronts Queeg directly. He urges Maryk to do that. (This is a class example of "Let's You and Him Fight".) From what I've seen this is the Instigator's favorite game. 2. It is done with many people and takes many different forms. It is usually very serious with Maryk who is a very serious person. But he also uses nicknames ("Old Yellowstains"), songs and humor to convince everyone that Queeg is mentally ill. 3. Keefer is relentless. He is constantly deriding Queeg to everyone and in everyway, but behind the scenes, like a puppetmaster. Notice when Maryk walks up on the group singing a derisive song about Queeg. Keefer does not appear to be the ringleader. Someone else is wielding the guitar and making up the song. Keefer merely appears to be joining along.
At one point a group (Maryk, Keefer and Keith) decide to approach the admiral of another ship about Queeg's behavior. This is where the movie game deviates from the real life game. Keefer attends this meeting, but talks Maryk out of going through with it. In real life Keefer would be nowhere near this meeting. The incensed and indignant Scapegoat would have marched into the admiral's office alone. He might have had a cohort, as in the movie (Keith), but that would be rare. Keefer, the Instigator would steer clear of the confrontation which would have ensued, working always in the limelight. Confronting Queeg or the admiral himself would have negated the entire point of the Scapegoat game, which is to convince the Scapegoat to carry your confrontations for you.
Next, watch Keefer's testimony at the trial. In my experience this is typical Instigator behavior. They have "no idea" why the Scapegoat behaved as they did and plead ignorance of ever knowing anything about it. Also, in real life, it would be highly unlikely that Keith would stand up for Maryk. It would be more likely that he would not have backed him up in the first place. If he had, he would definitely cop out at the trial, place all the blame on Maryk and save himself at Maryk's expense. That's what a Scapegoat is for.
I have other problems with this movie, i.e. anti-intellectualism and the emphasis on comformity and covering up for an obviously impaired officer. But the actors' masterful portrayal of the Scapegoat role is worth a watch.
*There is one interesting facet of the movie which is totally unrelated to the playing out of the Scapegoat role. In regard to Queeg's "mental illness" I think it's important to realize that this movie was made in 1956. Queeg's symtpoms are labeled "paranoia" with references made to "schizophrenia". Naturally we cannot diagnose fictional characters in movies, and the movie only hints that Queeg's current mental symptoms are the result of his prior experiences in the war, but his symptoms appear to be more in line with trauma than with schizophrenia. In 1956, prior to the Vietnam War and the renewed awareness of trauma, the makers of this movie were unaware of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Though we became aware of trauma in the 1800's, the term PTSD was not coined until the 1970's. This portrayal of probable trauma symptoms as "schizophrenia" and "paranoia" is interesting in light of current research showing that schizophrenia may not be a biochemical imbalance as previously claimed, but a trauma reaction.
If you enjoy watching psychological portrayals in the movies please see my page: Mental Health and Mental Illness at the Movies for more suggestions.