Corelli claims that a man can be described as a "sheep" or a "lion". How successful is Louis de Bernires in portraying different versions of manhood against the backdrop of war in Caption Corelli's Mandolin?

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Olivia Gibson                 Mr Skehan

Corelli claims that a man can be described as a “sheep” or a “lion”. How successful is Louis de Bernières in portraying different versions of manhood against the backdrop of war in Caption Corelli’s Mandolin?

In the novel “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” De Bernières presents us with many different versions of manhood. Through the characters in the novel De Bernières is able to portray different versions of manhood and what qualities he believes to make a strong character in times of war. The character Corelli claims that a man can be described as a “sheep” or a “lion”. This is a very stereotypical viewpoint and the author is commenting that it is not just strength and power that make a man but other qualities such as Morality and compassion within a character.  De Bernières is able to explore this viewpoint and expresses to the reader different versions of manhood in the backdrop of war.

The Character Günter is a Nazi which De Bernières clearly condemns throughout the novel. The novel is a dedication to his father who fought the Nazi’s in the Second World War. As the reader we are able to observe the character Gunter and see that De Bernières clearly dislikes the Nazi ideologies. He clearly admires characters such as Corelli as he believes a soldier should act on his morals rather than take orders if the soldier does not believe in them. From the poem entitled “The soldier”, found at the beginning of the novel, the reader has an indication that it will be a main theme throughout the novel. Günter does have some potential for some positive action. The chapters entitled “The Good Nazi” are reoccurring within the novel, some would argue that De Bernières is commenting that the character Gunter is good at being a Nazi. The character will always carry out his orders believing that it is more important to be a Nazi “He was destined to betray you with a Judas Kiss”. However this character is not portrayed as a “typical Nazi”. “Weber was 22 years old and never seen a naked woman before” This shows he is not “compulsive immolatory rapist[s]” as he has some respect for others. Some German readers would find this quote offensive as this was the view of the Germans at the time of the Second World War. Gunter is very innocent and naive “Corelli made friends with one of them, a boy”. This quotation portrays Gunter’s inexperience and incompetence to make decisions for himself. De Bernières is showing his true feelings towards the Nazi’s and making a dedication to his father. Gunter’s “father was a Lutheran pastor and he had grown up in the Austrian mountains, capable of hating Jews and gypsies because he had never met one”. This shows the reader that Günter had a very religious background and grew up very isolated meaning that he was not able to make up his own mind as he could only take the views that his father taught him. He has been brought up ignorant to society. As the reader we are drawn to feel sorry for this character as he is so ignorant. Günter can be portrayed as the sheep in this novel as he will never put his morals before his orders from the army whereas characters such as Corelli and Carlos would if they believed strongly in something. Günter is a strong believer in a superior race; this to the reader can be seen as immoral. For example if you have strength you are superior to any other race. This is a Nazi viewpoint “it’s a question of science that our race is superior than most”. Gunter is explaining that the Germans have not made themselves the superior race but science has “You can’t alter a scientific fact”. The author is making a comment that he does not agree that there is a superior race; just because a society or army have strength does not make them superior. Gunter believes that the Nazi’s have the right to do anything that they wish. Gunter is ordered to kill some Italian Traitors, he protests to doing this because he feels that he cannot do it as it goes against the little morals that he has, but instead he saves his own life as he knows that he will get executed if he does not kill the Italians. This is a good comparison to Corelli and Carlos as we know from other parts in the book they would take their own life to save their friends. This again shows that Gunter is not a good portrait of a man as he will put his own life before anyone else’s . The execution of the Italians is another example of De Bernières viewpoint, the reader can clearly see that he believes one should act on their morals no matter what the risk is, even life as the character Carlos demonstrates.

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The character Carlos is portrayed as a sympathetic character. As a modern reader we automatically feel compassion towards him as he is not able to release his emotions as a homosexual in the Army. In 1945 Carlos would not have been seen as a true man because of his sexuality. Many have different views today and this is why the modern reader is able to sympathise with this character. Through the character of Carlos, De Bernières is commenting on his hatred of the treatment of homosexuals by the Nazi’s throughout the war.  Carlos is an example that De Bernières brings ...

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