Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Essay -- essays research papers

'Captain Corelli’s Mandolin' S U M M A R Y It is 1941, and a young Italian officer, Captain Antonio Corelli,arrives on the beautiful Greek island of Cephallonia as part of an occupying force. He is billeted in the house of the local doctor, Iannis and his daughter Pelagia. He quickly wins the heart of Pelagia through his humour and his sensitivity, not to mention his stunning ability on the mandolin. But Pelagia is engaged to Mandras, a local fisherman who is away fighting with the Greek army. Despite her growing affection for Corelli, Pelagia continues to write to Mandras, but he does not answer. It transpires that he could not, since he is illiterate. But Pelagia takes this as a sign that their love is dead and she gives herself to Corelli. Then there is the betrayal. Everyone, it seems, in a short space of time, is betrayed. In the autumn of 1943, the Allies invade Sicily instead of the Greek islands, and, in the eyes of the islanders, betray Greece; the Italian commander, General Gandin, betrays his men, the Germans betray the Italians; perhaps Corelli even betrays Pelagia by leaving her. The full horror of war, international and then civil, comes home to all the characters, then is swept away by the tide of history. Pelagia and Corelli are apart and destined to remain so for half a lifetime. Pelagia thinks Corelli is dead, Corelli, visiting Pelagia secretly every year, thinks she is married. Then, in 1953 a new horror hits the island – the earthquake. The events ...

A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story Movie Essay

Is it characters, the storyline, or overall message that makes a movie great? There have been numerous movies made, but just a few have had a sincere impact on people. A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story did just that. It is about a transgender teenage and his amazing journey to self discovery to live life as a woman. It is a true based television movie the premiere in 2006 on Lifetime Movie Network. It is starring JD Pardo as the main character Eddie/Gwen Araujo and Mercedes Ruehl as his mother Sylvia Guerrero. This true based movie works, because it keeps the view’s attention up to the end. The movie begins with Eddie, his mother, and sibling movies into a new house after his mother left his abusive father. Eddie and his family attend his grandfather’s birthday party where Eddie is dress in his sister’s pink party dress by his sister and cousins then present to his family to see. As a child Eddie likes to play dress-up by wearing his mother’s clothes and lip. His strange habits worry her mother, so she has him checked out by a doctor that tells her Eddie is fine. In high school Eddie decides to become Gwen by dressing like a girl, growing his hair, and wearing make-up. Gwen tells his mother that he is spending the night at his best friends, but instead he go to a party. His best friend calls his phone, which his mother answers to discover that Gwen never showed up at her house. The police find Gwen’s body buried in the wilderness wrapped in a shower curtain, which they then inform his family. Gwen was strangled to death with a rope by four yo ung men after they discover that she was a male. The movie ends with Gwen’s murders facing trial for the horrible crime they committed and becoming sentence. On the whole, the film remains a story of a young man who wishes to live life as a woman in world. The movie is completely overflowing with scenes that are uplifting and tear-jerking. An excellent cast of actors helps A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story achieve its success. Gwen’s story allows the viewers to see that even though we live in a modern society there are still somethings people consider something be wrong. Some people feel that being gay or transgender is wrong based on the up bring and religious beliefs. This movie helps get the message across that being transgender is a condition that someone is born. A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story is an excellent movie. If you like movies with drama and realism than A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story is the film for you. During the movie, viewers gain an understanding of transgender people and issues they face in their daily lives. A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story, a moving drama about a young man’s courage to make a daring decision to live as a girl and face the world. In today’s modern society there are individuals that still deal with being transgender on a daily basis. If a tragedy like Gwen’s was to occur again, there are now stricter laws on punishment for it. If a hate crime is committed, which none of Gwen’s murders were charged with would end in serious jail time. No one deserves to be killed, because of his or her race, sexuality, or religion. The movie tells viewers that tolerance is the crucial asset for the 21st century and it has got no room for anything else.

Fences by August Wilson - 791 Words

Throughout history, civilizations have built fences to keep enemies out and keep those they want to protect inside. In society today, people create metaphorical fences in order to fence in their feelings, while others create literal fences in order to keep the unwanted away. In the play Fences, the Maxon family lives in 1950’s America whose love for sports and one another are questioned at times when they need to be together the most. In the play Fences by August Wilson, two main characters Troy and Cory Maxon build a fence, literally and metaphorically, which as the book progresses, becomes a symbol that allows each character to truly understand each other. In Fences, Troy Maxon builds a fence around his property that contains metaphorical reasons as well as the literal meaning. During a conversation with Troy and Cory, Bono mentions the fence Troy is building for his wife Rose and says â€Å"Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to ke ep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you† (61). Bono explains this to Troy because Cory was unable to comprehend why Rose wanted the fence up in the first place. This opens the reader up to the symbolization of the fence itself. The fence allows Rose to keep Troy with her because she has loved him for so many years and does not want to let him go or leave her for another woman. Later, in Act two, Troy, after speaking to Rose about his new baby who he had with his mistress Alberta,Show MoreRelatedFences : Fences By August Wilson1541 Words   |  7 PagesName: Alejandro Ahmed Date: 12/6/16 Unit: American Drama Title: Fences Author: August Wilson Year of Publication: 1986 Fences Study Guide Descriptive i. Overview: â€Å"Fences†, was a play written by August Wilson in 1986. The play communicates the story of the son of an unsuccessful sharecropper, Troy Maxson, who has lived most of his life independently due to his father’s abuse during his childhood. The play focuses on Troy’s interactions and conflicts with other characters, and the complicated relationshipsRead MoreFences, By August Wilson1104 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican-Americans during the middle of the twentieth century were treated differently than those of the white population. Fences, a play by August Wilson, demonstrates the frustration of white dominance during a time when African-Americans were secluded from society. The Maxson family are the main characters of the play, showing the life they lived in their black tenement in Pittsburg in the 1950s. The setting demonstrates the drama of their struggle, frustration, rebellion, and the predicamentsRead MoreAugust Wilson Fences984 Words   |  4 Pa gesbecause in order to get what you want you have to fight for it. Two literary works that reflect this quote are Fences, a play about the struggles of African American before and during the Civil Rights Era in the 1950s and 60s, by August Wilson and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† a short story that shows the difference between women and men during that time, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. ‘Fences’ shows the revolution the characters face, their actions and what is the result of those choices. Whereas, ‘TheRead MoreThe Fences By August Wilson1813 Words   |  8 PagesIn the Fences, by August Wilson shows that life of African Americans in the U.S. in the 1950s with the story of Troy and his family. Wilson uses the symbol of the fence to show the desires of each character like Rose’s desire is to keep her family together, Troy’s desire is to keep death out and to be not bound forever, and Bono’s desire is to follow Troy, his best friend, as an example of the right way to live and to be with Rose and Troy who are basically his family. Rose and the other seen charactersRead MoreFences, By August Wilson807 Words   |  4 PagesFences â€Å"Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep people in† (61). In the play, Fences, by August Wilson who displays how fences symbolize different situations to represent different characters. The story takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1950’s, and in the play fences gives an outlook of providing an obstacle or barrier that is intended to keep something out or in. It shows through the protagonist character, named Troy Maxson and his wifeRead MoreFences by August Wilson883 Words   |  4 PagesFences, written by August Wilson, is a play about a man, named Troy, struggling to support his family during the late 1950’s. In this play, we see that Troy hurts the people closest to him. He has been uncaring towards his wife, Rose, his brother Gabriel and his son, Cory. This is because Troy had nothing to go on but the harsh example set by his father. In Fences, Troy has felt like he has been fenced in all of hi s life, which causes him to fence others in. Troy has felt fenced in all of his lifeRead MoreFences, By August Wilson895 Words   |  4 PagesFences written by August Wilson is an award winning drama that depicts an African-America family who lives in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania during the 1950’s. During this time, the Mason’s reveal the struggles working as a garbage man, providing for his family and excepting life as is. The end of segregation began, more opportunities for African American people were accessible. Troy, who’s the father the Cory and husband of Rose has shoes fill as a working African America man. He is the family breadwinnerRead MoreFences, August Wilson1835 Words   |  8 PagesAs illustrative of the kind of analysis I would bring to Fences, by August Wilson, if my bid to direct is successful, O prose to take direction for a part of Act 1, Scene 3 of the play. This will include possible blocking, camera work, music, and what the actor should be feeling and experiencing while acting the par t. I will examine how crucial it is that the actors portray their characters effectively, and I will offer commentary to assure just that. On the basis of these findings I will determineRead MoreSymbolism In Fences By August Wilson1460 Words   |  6 PagesKeep Love in or Lock it Out?: An Analysis of Symbolism in Fences Symbolism is defined as an artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind. In Fences by August Wilson, symbolism is used heavily throughout the play in order to represent deeper meanings and add to the emotion of the storyline. In order for the play to have so much depth and emotion, symbolism is crucial to the work itself and the heavy topicsRead MoreFences by August Wilson1495 Words   |  6 PagesGrowing up, most parents want what is best for their children with the hope that they will lead a better life than the one they had. On the surface, this does not seem to be the case in the relationship between Troy and Cory in August Wilson’s Fences. Troy was a hardworking man who did all he can to provide for his family. Cory worked equally as hard in his athletic career. Troy made a decision to end Cory’s football career out of protection but Cory viewed it as his father’ s jealousy. Troy’s rough