How similar are the experiences and attitudes of Captain Corelli and Mandras? - Using life and war.
How similar are the experiences and attitudes of Captain Corelli and Mandras? - Using life and war.
Louis De Bernières realistically illustrates the terrible consequences that the Second World War had on the world, but in more depth he focuses on the mental and physical impact it had on the soldiers. Despite many of the soldiers being bitter enemies, all of the men were ‘united’ in the fight to defend their home nations; also many of the men believed it was patriotic, and believed they would gain a heroes welcome, when, or if they ever return.
Mandras first laid eyes upon Pelagia in chapter 3, upon him being shot by a bent nail from Velisarios’ cannon, which in turn was the reason Mandras was brought to Doctor Iannis’ house. Mandras suddenly opened his eyes and found himself gazing into another pair of eyes, and tenderly thought, “I became aware of my destiny”, which could suggest that it could be a case of ‘love at first sight’. Pelagia, in scene 7 could almost feel Mandras’ gaze as ‘though it were a hot caress’, appreciating her every move; and in response to this Pelagia subconsciously began swaying her hips and tripping over her feet. In comparison to this, upon Captain Corelli spotting Pelagia before they had been introduced, he reacted to her beautiful appearance by shouting, “Bella bambina at nine o’clock, Eyes left”, to his Regiment, despite this; Pelagia was restricted from responding to the event by her father, who firmly orders, “Don’t laugh”. Later that evening, Corelli arrives at Dr Iannis’ premises and slowly admires its surroundings and sets his eyes on “a young woman with dark eyes…” As a result of Corelli acting foolishly towards Pelagia, Corelli gains a smile from her, “against her will and against her resolution.” Despite Mandras being a countryman of Cephallonia, and Corelli being part of the Italian invading force, both men react to Pelagia’s beauty in a similar way, and both seem to gain a similar response from this very woman.