Introduction
Croellis Mandolin is both a book and a movie. The book was released in 1994, and serves as the basis for the movie that was released much later in 2001. The book was authored by a British writer and is set in Cephallonia, a Greek Island. The context of the book is during the German and Italian occupation that happened during the Second World War. The main characters of the book and the film adaptation are Antonio Corelli, a captain in the Italian army and Pelagia, the daughter of Dr. Lannis, a local physician. Both the novel and the film adaptation depict the throngs of love emanating from the horrible experience of war.
Different themes are used to draw this to perspective. The characterization of the novel and the cast in the movie also serve to advance this general theme. This paper will compare the relationship of two characters in the novel and the film adaptation and give a verdict of the one that is depicted to be stronger. These two characters are Pelagia and Mandras. The paper will also draw a comparison on the conclusion of both the novel and film adaptation and give a verdict on the one that is more effective of the two. All this will be tempered by two quotations from critics that are provided in the course material.
Discussion
They are saying, `I saw Pelagia and Mandras kissing. What will come of it? She
would blush if she knew.'
This is the first indication of the relationship between Pelagia and Mandras in the novel. Kissing is an intimate and passionate expression of one’s love and adoration for the other. Pelagia is in love with Mandras, a local fisherman in Greece. This is similar to the depiction in the film adaptation of the novel, where Penelope Cruz who is cast as Pelagia is depicted as being in love with Christian Bale who is cast as Mandras.
However, the depiction of their relationship in the movies is feeble when compared to that in the novel. In the film adaptation, the relationship between Pelagia and Mandras looks superficial and acted as opposed to passionate. The characters in the movie do not come off as passionate towards one another. They appear as though they are acting out the love they feel for one another. In the novel, Mandras expresses his love and willingness to marry Pelagia. In his fishing trips, the author narrates of his mental turmoil because he cannot afford dowry for his marriage to Pelagia. He is afraid that Dr. Lannis will get another reason to look down on him. Even though he knows that he loves her immensely, he is afraid of the perception of other people when they realize that he has no dowry to pay.
During the war, when Mandras enlists with the Greek army and ships out, the strength of their relationship is tested adversely. However, there are glimpses that Pelagia still loves him. Pelagia writes to him every day in order to check on his welfare. She is not deterred by the fact that Mandras does not reply her letters.
Pelagia writes to her intended everyday without reply, through frustration of not knowing if he is dead or alive
The tragedy here is that before the war, Pelagia loved this handsome and brawny fisherman that she was blinded of the fact that he could not read or write. The weakness in their relationship is illustrated when Pelagia despairs from the constant worry as to whether Mandras is dead or alive.
The deployment of Captain Corelli, a musician consummate does not help the relationship between Mandras and Pelagia. With time, Pelagia starts to fall in love with Captain Corelli. The waning love for Mandras is contrasted vividly by the ever growing interest for Pelagia by Mandras. In Mandras eyes, Pelagia is elevated and placed on a pedestal and given the status of a deity. Mandras’ mission, the suffering in the field of battle notwithstanding is to live and therefore prove himself a worthy person to marry her. He prays to her as a deity and retains his will to live despite the constant battering in the war. It is exactly for this reason that Mandras enlisted in the Greek army for the offensive against German and Italian occupation.
The proposal by Mandras for Pelagia’s hand in marriage also shows the doubts in the strength of their relationship. When asked, Pelagia quietly answers that she would marry him. However, what ensued goes to show that their relationship is not sturdy and might crumble sooner rather than later. Pelagia agrees that she felt choked by the words and that she felt less happy than she ought to have felt about the entire proposal. Additionally, during the war, Pelagia’s father was aware of her infidelity with Corelli. Rather than warning her against it since she was betrothed to be married to Mandras, she merely asked her to be careful lest people call her a fascist and a collaborator for leaving a patriotic Greek for an invader.
After the war, Pelagia realized that she was betrothed to an illiterate without her knowledge. She was blinded by love by the time she was betrothed and as such did not see past the love to the illiteracy lurking inside of Mandras. The love that was once there was quickly replaced by disgust especially after finding out that he did not reply to her letters because he could not read them. Owing to this, he left Mandras and abandoned their love. Later in the novel, we see that she could not recognize Mandras when home from the war. Her reaction tells everything she felt about her betrothed.
She in her turn looked at those gross and transfigured features, and felt
a pang of horror. `I thought you must be dead,' she said at length.
Her demeanor also reveals a lot about the place Mandras had in her heart.
She advanced timidly and reluctantly, and placed a kiss on his right cheek. `I am
glad you are alive,' she said.
Conclusion
Introduction
One would imagine that the film adaptation of a novel would depict the themes just as they are presented in the novel. Contrary to this popular opinion, directors often change the plot in the novel to pursue other interests. Others pass off their ideas under a bestselling novel’s name. The situation in this case is one where the director of the film downgraded the theme of love and passion and glorified the war. This effectively changed the conclusion of the films.
Discussion
The conclusion in the novel is more effective than that in the film adaptation of the novel. The conclusion in the novel effectively shows that love can turn into hate and romantic love can twist and deform one’s soul. The return from war by Mandras is marked by corrupt behavior and despicable character. Mandras is ready to get Pelagia back any way he can. He even intentionally pans on taking her virginity forcefully, a feat he never got to enjoy before he went to war. In contrast to this, Corelli returns and after a hard time, she convinces Pelagia to get back with her. Their reunion rekindles old memories and feelings. Pellagra is touched by the fact that after fifty years, Croellis still has the gift she had given her.
It is this among other things that set the old flame burning and they ride off in search of old sights. Unlike the novel, the movie ends very differently. Firstly, this is confusing for people who have already read the book prior to watching the film adaptation. This is because, unlike the conclusion depicted in the novel the film is based on, the two protagonists do not end up together. With such a conclusion, the theme of love and passion is shortchanged. This is the primary theme in the novel. Additionally, the conclusion in the movie does not depict the nostalgia of two lovers separated by time.
Conclusion
The conclusion in the novel is more effective than that in the film adaptation. The conclusion in the novel edifies the triumph of good behavior, integrity and love through the two protagonists. It also reprimands corrupt and despicable behavior and goes to show that it makes love and passion shrivel. Unlike this, the conclusion in the movie only serves to show that the film adaptation was just another way of narrating the woes, triumphs and tales of the Second World War. Overall, the film was very good, it looks great and it’s a new perspective on telling of the World War II story
Works Cited
Cheetham, Carmen . Captain Corelli's Mandolin: Movie Review. Available at> http://cinema. com/ articles /383 /captain-corellis-mandolin-movie-review.phtml
de, Bernieres L. Captain Corelli's Mandolin. London: Minerva, 1994. Print.
