Captain Corellis Mandolin Essay Example for Free

Captain Corellis Mandolin EssayCarlo asserts fight is a fantastic thing, in movies and in books. By close reference to the novel, explore how fight shows people at their beat out and their take up.The novel Captain Corellis Mandolin, scripted by Louis De Berniereticuloendothelial system in 1994, explores human beingsity we sigh at their suffering as they argon ripped apart and continuously changed by fight.1 The quote in the title is spoken by Carlo quite early on in the novel, at the end of chapter 15, titled LOmosessuale (4). He is referring to the idea that state of state of war is repeatedly shown to be patriotic, heroic, and indeed fantastic especi whollyy in movie theater and literature. However, from Carlos experiences in Albania, he knows the true reality of war, as he has seen and go through the suffering.We fucking trace Carlos progression of thought through his personal chapters all entitled LOmosessuale. He begins saying, How wonderful it was to be at t his war(p.119) We hear him describe crossing the foreign border as exhilarating, and he and his comrades suppose themselves as the new legionaries of the new empire that would last ten thousand years.(p.119) This was his view at the rattling beginning of war, before he had rightfully experienced any suffering. As he is yet to understand any conflict, it is likely he has been influenced by the propaganda at the time, organised by the Italian leader, Mussolini. The next quotation is said slightly further on during Carlos experience, How wonderful it was to be at war, until the weather turned against us.(p.120)It is present that we begin to hear of some of the suffering that Carlo and his comrades had to dominate, such as we were ten thousand men mischievous to the bone(p.120). The real tragedy of war is death, and Carlo has had direct experience of this. He says, War is wonderful until someone is killed(p.122). This is when De Bernieres chooses to handling graphic images to sh ow the suffering that Carlo and his comrades endure. I realised that I was covered with gory scraps of human flesh that were freezing fast to my uniform(p.122). Finally, Carlo says the quotation in the title, War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books on page 124. It is here that Carlo has realised the actuality of war, and shadow see that this idealised reading material is fictitious and can only be seen in movie and in books.War scorches a trail through all of their lives. What seems, at the beginning of the novel, like a game, a challenge to manhood, a matter of honour, an occasion for policy-making satire, becomes an appalling reality.2Carlo asserts that war is shown to be wonderful in movies and in books. However, De Bernieres does non follow this trend, and shows the war for what it is. De Bernieres temperaments starve and die slowly with their entrails hanging away he depicts the horror that they declare to endure to labor for their country, and the suffering t hat they are put through.In Albania, Carlo saysIt was as though a portion of my mind has disappeared, or as though my soul had diminished to a tiny point of grey light(p.138).De Bernieres also shows the battue and bloodshed ca purposed by the war, when he describes the death of Francesco. In chapter 19, LOmosessuale (6), De Bernieres uses Carlos narrative to tell the reader the true expatiate of Francescos death, and then the sanitised version for his mother. As well as this showing Carlos considerate nature, it also confirms that more people did view the war in a genuinely divergent light from its reality, including Francescos mother.He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing.(He died on a day when the snow was melting and when, under that carapace, there were emerging a thousand corpses, knapsacks, rusted riffles, water bottles, illegible unfinished letters drenched in blood) (p.148).Corelli wrote the novel, after falling in hunch forward wi th the Island of Cephallonia, and wanting to inform readers about what happened to this Island during World War II. For this reason, he has depicted a very real and veritable account of atrocities that occurred during the Second World War.Everyone is shot, without think for rank or role, even the medics and the chaplains.3However, in the film adaptation of Captain Corellis Mandolin, directed by rump Madden, war is viewed in a very different light. De Bernieres has said of the film The problem is that film-makers take out all your good ideas and replace them with a load of stupid ones.4 The depiction of war in the film is very different and many scenes seem to have been watered down5, in order to appeal to farther wider audience. The movie has been widely criticised, after changing the narrative line drastically from a tragic story of the destruction and consequences of war, to a love story between Corelli and Pelagia.Where de Bernires book makes it clear from the start that war is unforgivingly ugly, for a long time the films only hint of this is a glimpse of Mandrass battle-scarred feet.6Although lots of De Bernieres novel depicts the horror of war, some of the consequences of war are indeed wonderful. Corelli and Pelagia would have never found love without the intervention of war in their lives, and although ultimately war destroys their love, the moments spent together made the war endurable.The prefatorial poem at the beginning on the novel shows Louis De Bernieres hinting, even before the novel has begun, that war go away be an important theme throughout. The S rareier by Humbert Wolfe describes the waste of war, and the loss of lives and of youth. Links are distinct between this poem and Captain Corellis mandolin as they both explore the way in which war has an prepare on different people.The presence of war on the Island of Cephallonia has various effects on different characters and can expose peoples flaws and merits. An excellent example of th is is the contrast shown between Mandras and Antonio Corelli.Corelli has been drawn into a war that he really has no heart for. You mean youre a soldier by mistake? (p. 206, Pelagia). He has no desires to be a soldier and his character is often seen as anti-military. When giving punishments he does not follow the rules that are expected of him, To everyones surprise the headman pointed his pistol straight into the face of one of the culprits(p.324). However, although he had no mark of doing so, Corelli proves to be an excellent comrade and shows morality throughout the war. This is my morality, I make myself imagine that it is personal(p.351).This is greatly contrasted with the character of Mandras. He has very high expectations about the feeling of a soldier and feels he has to prove himself to Pelagia and the ataraxis of the Island. He resents those who know more than him, yet does not want to prove himself intellectually, as he believes no man is a man until he has been a sol dier(p.80) Carlos assertion that war is wonderful in movies and in books reflects a idealised view of the war.However, Mandras believes that this view was the reality of war and he felt that becoming a soldier would make him more worthy as a man. Ill come back and everyone allow say, Thats Mandras, who fought in the war. We owe everything to people like him. He is indoctrinated by what is expected of him, and is predicted to conform. However high Mandras expectations were, the war does not elevate him, it wagers him down. During his experiences in war he saw others abuse their power, and now feels he has a right to do the same, The war de-humanises him, and instead of changing him for the better it changes him for the worse.The war in Cephallonia showed the best and the worst in people. In Antonio Corellis case it displays his merits as he has the opportunity to exercise his humanity in the sermon of others. From the beginning of the novel, Corelli is represented as a laid-back, light-hearted leader. Although he has a great talent as a leader, he is very modest and introduces Carlo as one of our heroes, He has a hundred medals for saving life and none for taking it(p.202). He proves himself as an excellent comrade and Captain by being flock to his men until the very end. There is no honour in this war, but I have to be with my boys(p.392). His introduction of La Scala also shows good comradeship, as it is a humorous and practical solution to having to use communal toilets. This is also a crucial element of the novel, as before they go to join the barb line up, they sing to maintain their composure.He also shows his forgiving nature when he chooses to forgive Gunter for what he has done. I forgive you. If I do not, who will?(p.397). He says of himself I am not a natural parasite(p.305) and this is seen clearly when he avoids any con previousation with Pelagia. He is uncomfortable about living with Pelagia and her set out Tonight I shall sleep in the yard and tomorrow I shall request alternative accommodation(p.204). Corellis centre for animals is De Bernieres way of showing positive traits in a character. The fact that Corelli is so attached to Psipsina shows that he is an estimable man and the reader feel connected to him.The captain had some engaging traits. He tied a cork to a piece of string, and sprinted about the house with Psipsina in hot pursuitand if the animal happened to be seance on a piece of music, he would go away and fetch another sheet preferably than disturb her(p.250)Corelli also shows fondness for youngsterren in his affinity with Lemoni. Although there is a language barrier, the two are able to communicate on a different level, and are able to enjoy each others company.The child was whooping and laughing, and it appeared that what was transpiring was a lesson in Italian. Bella fanciulla, the captain was saying. He was waiting for Lemoni to repeat it. Bla fanshla, she giggled. (p. 211)He also appears to ha ve a very different attitude than other soldiers, when he arrives in Cephallonia with his mandolin strapped to his back, and not a gun, as you would expect from a soldier. The mandolin that was called Antonia because it was the other half of himself. This love for music is another engaging trait that the captain has, and is one of the reasons Pelagia falls in love with him. We also see this originality to his character when Gunter weber, a german soldier, introduces himself. Weber says Heil Hitler, yet Corelli says Heil Puccini, showing he has a very different attitude to the war, and will not be led by anyone. This again shows his love for classical music, as Puccini was a great composer, whom Corelli was an admirer of.His relationship with Pelagia is clearly one of great love and admiration, however it also contains sexual desires, which are never consummated. much(prenominal) slender fingers, such pink nails. He imagined them engaged upon amorous and nocturnal things, and realise d that he was distressing Psipsina.(p.259, Corelli)This shows ongoing respect for Pelagia and her father, and also shows Corellis caring and considerate temperament.In contrast to Corelli, the character Mandras is brutalised by war. He believes that war will change him for the better, yet it changes him for the worse. He becomes a victim of propaganda and a victim of his insecurities. out front he leaves for war he tells Pelagia Im a Greeknot a Fascist(p.214) War changes him for the worse as he is very easily led and allows others to influence him.This may have had a positive effect on Mandras if he had chosen Iannis to guide him, yet he chooses Hector, the leader of a branch of the ELAS. Joining this group causes him to waive his personal values, and this is seen when he whips the old man. Mandras did not even notice that the man had stopped moving, had stopped thigh-slapper and whining(p.233). He manages to blank out the emotions that he should be feeling, and begins to enjoy the power he holds over this old man. If you didnt think about what it was, it sounded weirdly beautiful(p.234)After returning from the war, he becomes much more manipulative, especially towards Pelagia and Drosoula. Mandras had begun his exile into inaccessibility by dramatising the idea of death(p.180). Pelagia was convinced that he was doing it on purpose as an act of vengeance or punishment.(p.180). This shows a very cruel side to Mandras that we have never seen before, and it clearly takes the war to bring out this negative side of his character.He has clearly been indoctrinated by the propaganda of the war, and this is seen in chapter 63, when he recites communist slogans. The company is never wrong. Whoever is not with us is against us(p.447) He does not seem to be questioning what he has been told, he just repeats it. He has experienced others abusing their power during his time with the ELAS and now sees this as an approved way of behaving. De Bernires explores power and i ts abuse7 He insults and belittles Pelagia after he returns from fighting and tortures her further, even though he should see that she has suffered comme il faut during the war.De Bernieres shows a side to Mandras that readers have never seen before. He represents him as evil and sadistic, and we see Mandras refer to Pelagia as a slut. His morals have disintegrated following his fighting with the ELAS, and feels that he can do whatever he wants. This is due to the fact that the ELAS would make up their own rules for their comrades to follow. The war de-humanises Mandras and he represents the damage that can be inflicted by extreme politics. In Mandras death, De Bernieres wants readers to feel pity for him, as it is clear the communist party has poorly indoctrinated him. He dies as a victim of the war, and a desire to prove himself worthy, and this also evokes compassion in the readerCarlo is a character in the novel who shows how war can bring out the best in people. He is a very honourable character, and has to live with the secret that he is homosexual. He puts asunder his desire for Corelli in order to help the romance between Pelagia and Corelli develop. I have loved you with the same surprise and gratitude that I see in your own eyes when you are with Pelagia(p.384). He shows true courage in front of the firing squad when stepping in front of Corelli to save his life. Antonio Corellihad found in front of him the titanic bulk of Carlo Guercio(p.399). De Bernieres uses Carlos narrative in the chapters entitled LOmosessuale, and this allows the readers to sympathise further with the silent suffering that Carlo has to endure during the war. His writings are eloquently written and his language is poetic and beautiful, showing the gentle side to his character.He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing.(P.148, Carlo)Father Arsenios was saved by the war(p.292). De Bernieres absolves Arsenios after the war and liberates him from his former self. However, the characters perceive him as a mad man and cannot see that war has brought about his finest hour. He is referred to as the crazy priest yet he feels he is a saviour and it is probable that, had he lived, Arsenios might have become a saint(p.295).De Bernieres chooses to depict war in a graphic and true to life(predicate) light in his novel, Captain Corellis Mandolin. Although in many films or books war is shown to be wonderful, this idealised version is proved wrong in De Bernieres novel, as he shows the suffering that the soldiers were forced to endure. He shows that the war has different effects on different people, and it can expose their faults or their merits.Mandras is forever changed by the war, as he returns indoctrinated by the communist party. His death proves that his natural environment is the sea, where he can be accepted and does not have to prove himself. In contrast Corellis merits are shown to be more prominent as the war develops, and a lso as his love for Pelagia develops. The reader is drawn to the character of Corelli, even though he is an occupying soldier, as he shows compassion, kindness and respect during his time in Cephallonia.