Comparative Essay Love
The power of love- Comparative essay
In both visual and written texts, love operates as a powerful and inescapable force, which can influence life in various ways. In Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ love is represented as a forbidden romantic experience which ultimately ends in tragedy. Wayne Bennet represents a love of life in his autobiography, ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’, through the exploration of his love for football and coaching. Finally, Baz Luhrman represents love in the film ‘Moulin Rouge’ as a romantic force that can conquer all things. This essay will argue that whilst these three texts represent diverse forms of love, the message that love is a powerful and inescapable force is ultimately evident in all texts.
In Shakespeare’s …show more content…
“Othello” the protagonist and his wife, Desdemona, experience a controversial but idyllic marriage which ultimately ends in their tragic demise. Throughout this tragedy Shakespeare has used juxtaposition and characterisation to illustrate the inescapable and overpowering force of love. Shakespeare’s use of juxtaposition to emphasise the forbidden nature of Othello and Desdemona’s love is immediately evident, with the couple’s racial backgrounds referred to in animal terms: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (I.1.86-90). This juxtaposed imagery of black and white is reinforced with the birth of Iago’s plot to use Othello and Desdemona’s love as a weapon to destroy his military superiors:
“I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear…will turn her virtue into pitch / And out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all” (II.3.350-61).
This statement reveals Iago’s plan to turn love into envy, and cements his role as the catalyst for the play’s tragic ending. This juxtaposition creates the forbidden aspect of their firstly romantic courtship which rapidly ends in tragedy. Although their love is forbidden, the two protagonists still rely on it to live, even though it is obvious their love could be partially disastrous. Thus, Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ enforces the message that love can influence life immensely, and operates as a powerful and inescapable force.
Just as love can be used as a weapon in a tragedy, it can also be expressed as a powerful emotion that can help people to achieve their goals in life.
In Wayne Bennett’s autobiography, ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’, it is stated that ‘’If you love what you do, you can do anything’’ (pg. 68), and this is explored through the discourse of sport, football and coaching. Colloquial language and conversational tone are used throughout the book to help the reader relate to the main message, that love and passion can be influential, and can help you achieve many fulfilling experiences in life. Wayne Bennett states that ‘age is not the factor for success- it’s just how much you are prepared to give’’(pg.36), also stating that, ‘’not everything is about winning, but instead doing the best you possibly can’’ (pg. 35). Similarly, quotes and anecdotes are also used to help make the message more prominent and memorable for the reader, for example: ‘’there are no great men- only great challenges which ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet’’ (pg.58). Similarly, American footballer, Otto Graham, once …show more content…
stated,
“Everyone can’t be the best at everything, but everyone can try the best at anything. If you give 100 per cent, you’ll get your share of victories” (pg.35).
These motivating quotes are used throughout the book to support Wayne Bennett’s philosophy of love and life, and to open the target audience’s mind up to the book’s message and its application to real life. Whilst the form of love represented throughout ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’ focuses on the love of one’s life, the underlying message still emphasises the power of love, and the things that can be achieved with this powerful force.
Contrastingly, the subliminal message evident in Baz Luhrman’s film, ‘Moulin Rouge’, is that love can conquer all differences and become an idealistic and passionate experience.
Luhrmann has achieved this romantic representation of love through the juxtaposition of the two protagonists, intertextuality, and symbolism. At the beginning of the film audiences see that Christian, a bohemian writer, and Satine, a courtesan, reflect vastly different perceptions of love. Whilst Christian believes in “love above all things”, Satine believes that love is a material commodity that can be bought and sold, and is introduced by her motto of “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. With this song, intertextuality is used along with heavily symbolic features such as diamonds, costumes and dancing, which are used to further portray her view of love. Indeed, throughout the film Satine’s emotional independence from Christian is visually signalled with diamond jewellery and black dresses, and the statement “men pay me to make them feel what they want to feel”, reminding viewers of her materialistic and impure experiences with love. Christian also represents his perceptions of love through the intertextuality of the song ‘’Elephant Love Medley’’. With this song intertextuality is used in the form of Chrisitan fantasising about Satine’s change of heart. Through the use of Satine’s red gown, symbolising her heart, and Christian singing ‘’all you need is love’’ throughout the song with Satine joining
with him towards the end. This helps viewers to perceive Satine’s change of heart and her perception of love. Throughout the film these textual features remind the viewer that love is a driving, influential force that can alter one’s life irreversibly. It is with these two different beliefs of love that the film demonstrates how love can transform the two ideals of the contrasting protagonists on a journey of love for each other. This message supports the view that love is an overpowering and influential force, no matter what the circumstances.
Throughout Luhrmann’s film a repeated refrain reminds viewers that ‘’the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return’’. In these three different texts diverse forms of love are evident throughout, however love is still represented as an overpowering and influential force in each. Different genres such as films and books can portray love though imagery, words, and characters. Textual features such as such as juxtaposition, used throughout Othello, colloquial language used throughout Wayne Bennett’s autobiography and intertextuality all prove how influential love can be. These textual features, show that whilst the three texts discussed display diversity, they all have love as their central theme.
In both visual and written texts, love operates as a powerful and inescapable force, which can influence life in various ways. In Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ love is represented as a forbidden romantic experience which ultimately ends in tragedy. Wayne Bennet represents a love of life in his autobiography, ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’, through the exploration of his love for football and coaching. Finally, Baz Luhrman represents love in the film ‘Moulin Rouge’ as a romantic force that can conquer all things. This essay will argue that whilst these three texts represent diverse forms of love, the message that love is a powerful and inescapable force is ultimately evident in all texts.
In Shakespeare’s …show more content…
“Othello” the protagonist and his wife, Desdemona, experience a controversial but idyllic marriage which ultimately ends in their tragic demise. Throughout this tragedy Shakespeare has used juxtaposition and characterisation to illustrate the inescapable and overpowering force of love. Shakespeare’s use of juxtaposition to emphasise the forbidden nature of Othello and Desdemona’s love is immediately evident, with the couple’s racial backgrounds referred to in animal terms: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (I.1.86-90). This juxtaposed imagery of black and white is reinforced with the birth of Iago’s plot to use Othello and Desdemona’s love as a weapon to destroy his military superiors:
“I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear…will turn her virtue into pitch / And out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all” (II.3.350-61).
This statement reveals Iago’s plan to turn love into envy, and cements his role as the catalyst for the play’s tragic ending. This juxtaposition creates the forbidden aspect of their firstly romantic courtship which rapidly ends in tragedy. Although their love is forbidden, the two protagonists still rely on it to live, even though it is obvious their love could be partially disastrous. Thus, Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ enforces the message that love can influence life immensely, and operates as a powerful and inescapable force.
Just as love can be used as a weapon in a tragedy, it can also be expressed as a powerful emotion that can help people to achieve their goals in life.
In Wayne Bennett’s autobiography, ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’, it is stated that ‘’If you love what you do, you can do anything’’ (pg. 68), and this is explored through the discourse of sport, football and coaching. Colloquial language and conversational tone are used throughout the book to help the reader relate to the main message, that love and passion can be influential, and can help you achieve many fulfilling experiences in life. Wayne Bennett states that ‘age is not the factor for success- it’s just how much you are prepared to give’’(pg.36), also stating that, ‘’not everything is about winning, but instead doing the best you possibly can’’ (pg. 35). Similarly, quotes and anecdotes are also used to help make the message more prominent and memorable for the reader, for example: ‘’there are no great men- only great challenges which ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet’’ (pg.58). Similarly, American footballer, Otto Graham, once …show more content…
stated,
“Everyone can’t be the best at everything, but everyone can try the best at anything. If you give 100 per cent, you’ll get your share of victories” (pg.35).
These motivating quotes are used throughout the book to support Wayne Bennett’s philosophy of love and life, and to open the target audience’s mind up to the book’s message and its application to real life. Whilst the form of love represented throughout ‘Don’t Die With the Music in You’ focuses on the love of one’s life, the underlying message still emphasises the power of love, and the things that can be achieved with this powerful force.
Contrastingly, the subliminal message evident in Baz Luhrman’s film, ‘Moulin Rouge’, is that love can conquer all differences and become an idealistic and passionate experience.
Luhrmann has achieved this romantic representation of love through the juxtaposition of the two protagonists, intertextuality, and symbolism. At the beginning of the film audiences see that Christian, a bohemian writer, and Satine, a courtesan, reflect vastly different perceptions of love. Whilst Christian believes in “love above all things”, Satine believes that love is a material commodity that can be bought and sold, and is introduced by her motto of “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. With this song, intertextuality is used along with heavily symbolic features such as diamonds, costumes and dancing, which are used to further portray her view of love. Indeed, throughout the film Satine’s emotional independence from Christian is visually signalled with diamond jewellery and black dresses, and the statement “men pay me to make them feel what they want to feel”, reminding viewers of her materialistic and impure experiences with love. Christian also represents his perceptions of love through the intertextuality of the song ‘’Elephant Love Medley’’. With this song intertextuality is used in the form of Chrisitan fantasising about Satine’s change of heart. Through the use of Satine’s red gown, symbolising her heart, and Christian singing ‘’all you need is love’’ throughout the song with Satine joining
with him towards the end. This helps viewers to perceive Satine’s change of heart and her perception of love. Throughout the film these textual features remind the viewer that love is a driving, influential force that can alter one’s life irreversibly. It is with these two different beliefs of love that the film demonstrates how love can transform the two ideals of the contrasting protagonists on a journey of love for each other. This message supports the view that love is an overpowering and influential force, no matter what the circumstances.
Throughout Luhrmann’s film a repeated refrain reminds viewers that ‘’the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return’’. In these three different texts diverse forms of love are evident throughout, however love is still represented as an overpowering and influential force in each. Different genres such as films and books can portray love though imagery, words, and characters. Textual features such as such as juxtaposition, used throughout Othello, colloquial language used throughout Wayne Bennett’s autobiography and intertextuality all prove how influential love can be. These textual features, show that whilst the three texts discussed display diversity, they all have love as their central theme.