Introduction:
As the saying goes, "art imitates life". And we can see a lot of richness in how cinematic classics express the whole spectrum of human emotions.
Dead Poets Society:
For those unaware of the film, Dead Poets Society it is about a bunch of high schoolers who are influenced by an exceptional teacher's passion for poems. The film’s use of detail lends it a beautiful tenderness in dealing with the concept of bildungsroman. The central theme of Dead Poets Society is the protagonists' diverse interactions with literature as a symbol of love, passion, and emotion. The teacher, Mr. Keating, quotes Walt Whitman's poem, "O Me! O Life", in the movie's most memorable scenes - "That you are here - that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse." Such poetic statements subtly embody the movie's core themes: the concept of choosing someone or our passion for life.
Following that, we see how Mr. Keating's instruction inspires the guys to make changes in their lives: Knox chases an unrealistic romantic lead, Neil defies his dad's wishes, and Todd gradually wakes up to the realities around him. These personas can comprehend the splendor of life by harmonizing themselves with multiple views, particularly those acquired from the numerous authors they are privy to.
Looking for Alaska:
Miles Halter looks for a bountiful possibility in the drama series, Looking for Alaska, a homage to French author Francois Rabelais' final thoughts. The narrator's trip starts in Culver Creek, where he meets Alaska, Takumi, and Chip, his friends. The people Miles meets and the adventures he has there prepare him for his initial glimpse of humankind's complexities. Alaska explains 'The General in His Labyrinth' to Miles in their earliest encounter, recreating Simon Bolivar's fictitious final remark, "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!"
This follows a debate among the main characters, during which Alaska claims that the maze is an analogy for humankind's sorrow, and presents a query that recurs throughout the episode: "How will we escape this maze of misery?" As the plot of Looking for Alaska progresses, we see a trend in which the key characters Alaska and Miles turn to the language of others to transcend the drabness and monotony of their daily existence. Upon Alaska's early demise, Miles looks to her writings to try to make sense of it all. Miles concludes that forgiveness is perhaps the sole way to "leave the maze".
Conclusion:
These two films illustrate people leaning on literature to deal with the burden of life and the reality surrounding them. We are all struggling to sort out what our passages are going to be. We are all trying to find our route out of the maze of misery. Each of us is confronted with the severity of the unexpected in our manner.
FAQs
Do modern movies adapt classic literature accurately?
There are many instances of films that have done a wonderful job of adapting classic literature. However, it must be said that creative licence and often varying interpretations do sometimes take us away from the story and the characters portrayed in classic literature.
Have people only recently started adapting classic literature to films?
No, since the dawn of theatre, classic literature has held a strong position in the arts and that has translated to film when it became mainstream.
Which works of classic literature have been adapted to films the most?
Stories of Sherlock Holmes, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, once held the record for most film adaptations - 44 varying adaptations.
What are widely considered the most famous words from a classic novel used in films?
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” powerful words from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Having said that, this is extremely debatable and you will find authors, aficionados and bookworms with varying theories on this.
