Dangerous Games of Love in the Films Cruel Intentions versus Dangerous Liaisons
Would you like to play a game? This game involves passion, deceit, lies, and love. I viewed two movies that share the same painful theme; Cruel Intentions and Dangerous Liaisons. They both bring to life a set of characters that play with emotions like they are nothing but a mere child's game.
I chose to introduce you to the infamous Viconte Valmont and the spoiled Sebastian Valmont. Not only are their names similar, but so were their motives. I liked Sebastian more because of his clench on reality. He portrayed a villain well, but at the same time proved that he too could have feelings. Viconte had feelings also, but it was much harder for him to reveal it. I felt a constant coldness through the movie in each instant he spoke, stared, or moved. And by the time he did show compassion - it was already to late for love.
To bring you into Viconte's world, you must place yourself in early Baroque France. Affluence is everything, and discreteness is a virtue. The beautiful and vixenous Marquis De Merteuil and promiscuous Viconte Valmont are a fiery duo. The Marquis has requested the assistance of Viconte in what she describes as a "heroic undertaking". More clearly stated: revenge on her former husband who ran off with Viconte's mistress. The idea is to destroy and ruin Cecile, the ex-husband's virginal bride- to -be. Unfortunately for the Marquis, Viconte has another challenge to conquer. He set his sight on the virtuous Madam de Tourvel. Viconte intends to make the lovely lady fall in love with him. Despite his refusal of her request, Viconte persuades the Marquis to promise him a reward (a sexual favor) if he accomplishes his self-appointed task. In the meantime, the Marquis drags in a poor music teacher Dawsoni to achieve her desires. Eventually for purposes of revenge, Viconte assists the Marquis in her venture. This leads to Madam de Tourvel falling in love with Viconte, as he desperately falls in love with her. Their love is tormented by the fact he is ashamed of actually loving, and all of his skeletons come out to haunt him. Viconte brings down the Marquis, but fights Dawsoni because of Cecil's honor.
Where does the line of sport and murder intersect in hunting? Is it when the species being hunted is able to reason? Or is it when the species being hunted looks just like the hunter? In both movie and film, we see a man fight for his life and another going against all codes of ethics. While Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s film adaptation both have several similarities, the difference are also apparent in each respective media.
Throughout our lives, it seems when we have no one else to help us, our most challenging problems occur leaving ourselves to use our wit and emotion to persevere. People can have test or a big game where we have teachers and coaches to help us prepare and succeed. However, in the movie, High Noon, a Marshall named Will Kane is faced with a challenge of an arriving Frank Miller looking to kill. In the short story, "The Most Dangerous Game", a hunger named Rainsford is deserted on a island after he fell off his yacht, and he would soon find out a sociopath with the unique taste for hunting down humans was out for him. With the two characters in these suspense-building products somewhat trapped we can take out many lessons and ideas from the action packed movie and short story. The movie, High Noon, and the short story, "The Most Dangerous Game, are alike and at the same time very different.
In this novel, the society is centered around dichotomies; “youth and dotage” (Balzac 67), “the young man who has possessions and the young man that has nothing” and “the young man who thinks and the young man who spends” (87). Any person who falls outside of either box is called a “[child] who learn[s]… too late” or can “never appear in polite society” (87), essentially meaning they are undesirable in a formal society because they cannot follow expectations. The titular character, Paquita, is an “oriental” foreigner, from Havana, domesticated in Paris when she was sold to a wealthy woman who desired her. She fits into no culture entirely, as she is “part Asian houri on her mother’s side, part European through education, and part tropical by birth” (122). She is bisexual, choosing neither men nor women over the other. She is controlling, dressing Henri in women’s clothing (119), but controlled as she is reduced to a possession. However, there are ways in which a person can still be desired even if they are not easily pigeonholed. With her golden eyes and sensuality, Paquita fulfills both of the main pursuits of this society, “gold and pleasure” (68). Consequently, unlike the Marquis and his irrelevance in society, Paquita is highly sought after, thus making her a valuable commodity. Her desirability is not because of who she is as a human, but instead what
The setting of “The Most Dangerous Game” is an indubitable feature that lets the reader get an idea of where this is all taking place and gives the feeling as to what the story should feel like.
Mersault, the narrator and protagonist, is The Stranger. He has cut himself off from the world. As he narrates the novel is divided into two parts. In part 1 he deals with everyday affairs except for two important events. At the beginning of the novel his mother has died. He is struggling to make ends meet, therefore he sent his mother to a nursing home in Marengo. This has brought criticism from the community. At the funeral he does not feel the grief as is expected nor is he concerned with the formalities of mourning. The next day Mersault starts an affair with Marie, who at one time been a typist in his office. They have a wonderful time eating, swimming, watching movies and making love. People, i.e. society is aghast that he has not observed what is considered a proper mourning period for his mother.
Complications also arose when viola fell in love with her master, duke orsino, while at the same time had the love interest of orsino, the countess Olivia, trying to woo her. This placed viola in an extremely difficult and complex situation on one hand, she loved the duke and would have liked to do all she could to win his heart. But because she was his servant, she was obliged to serve him and help him win the hand of Olivia. What was a poor girl to do ?
Nevertheless, Claudio and Hero’s differences in the play it stirs up the plot and conflict, but it is their similarities and strong willed love that draws them together in the
In the short story “An Adventure in Paris” by Guy De Maupassant an unnamed woman seeks for adventure, love, and excitement. An unnamed narrator starts to explain the inner nature and curiosity of a woman. The story transitions to the point of view of an unnamed lawyer’s wife which allows us to see her deepest desire to travel to Paris and be part of the lavishing life she has seen in the magazines. To escape her regular routine she makes a plan to go to Paris; however, her family members are only middle class and cannot help her fulfill her desire to live the life of a celebrity, fame, and fashion. Just when her trip seems to be monotonous she comes across the chance to live the life of an extravagant person. This chance happens when she meets Jean Varin, a wealthy author, in a store wanting to purchase a Japanese figurine. When Varin decides that the figurine is too expensive the lawyer’s wife steps up to buy the figurine which causes Varin to notice her. She flirtatiously invites herself into Varin’s daily activities which intrigue Varin. As the day closes she invites herself to Varin’s house and has an affair with Varin; however, she doesn’t feel she is satisfied because of his many needs. She anxiously waits till morning to come so that she can leave which only confuses Varin. When Varin asks her why she is leaving after all they have been through she states that she wanted to know what depravity felt like; however, it was not what she expected. The central idea of the story is about a woman’s psychological desire for romance, adventure, and an opulent lifestyle that leads to curiosity and the immoral act of adultery.
.... The action flows so seamlessly between the two elements that they often seem like aligned narratives rather than a mise-en-abîme. This flawlessness is used as a great outcome, further emphasizing that human cruelty is nothing new. It's easy to forget that Atuey, Columbus, Las Casas, Montesinos, etc. are actors playing roles-within-roles because they seem just as "real" as Costa, Sebastian and Daniel. The film's entire cast is incredible, but the star was Juan Carlos Aduviri, he gave both Atuey and Daniel distinct identities with a few common traits. Daniel and Atuey are both forthright rebels, but they have dissimilarities and (including living centuries apart). As an activist for morality and equality who believes in speaking truth to power, I found Even the Rain especially impactful. This film is certain to inspire many of us to keep fighting for what is right.
This shows that femininity and masculinity in itself is an identity, not just physical and biological. This makes Viola’s disguise even more difficult to overcome. Biologically she can relate to a woman’s folly and weaknesses, while being able to exert her newly found masculinity. She is not between these two worlds, they are now glued together and she is right in the middle of it. As a result, she has a heavy crown because of this, and it consists of all of the accumulated deceit. It also puts her in situations where she has to pick between her femininity while she appears to be in a man’s body. She understands that a woman’s heart can be weak and fickle when it comes to finding love, but while she is in a new identity, she finds that some characteristics between the two sexes do not add
...e exact opposite, rendering his dedication and involvement in the Milice questionable. In this sense, Lucien, is portraying the typical bourgeois collaborateur as a human being who is capable of love, quite unlike the traditional image of a “monster”. However, Lucien and his motives remain ambiguous to the audience due to his questionable treatment of France at certain points within the film. Whilst Lucien is “courting” France, he demands that she escort him to a dance at the hotel which has become a gathering place for the Milice, against her will and her father’s will. This is a highly selfish act on Lucien’s part, as France is in great danger the entire evening since the generals within the Milice are well aware of her status as a Jew, creating doubt withing the audience over the authenticity of Lucien’s love and his capability to think and feel in a moral manner
In order to discern between the Victorian and Romantic themes, Bronte selects certain characters to portray the perfect stereotype of each theme. Mademoiselle Celine Varens is the model of the Romantic attitude. Varens a “French opera-dancer” found herself as the “grande passion” of Mr. Rochester. The amour between Rochester and Varens started in a “complete establishment of servants, a carriage, cashmere, diamonds, dentells, etc.” and ended with Rochester “finding her out” with another man. Varens’ irrationality did not only affect Rochester, but also her child: “she abandoned her child and ran away with a musician or singer.” Celine Varens, a woman in a daring profession, led a life of passion, freedom and irresponsibility. Her life was ballad of adventure idolized by Romantics but frowned upon by society. Mrs. Reed is the perfect representative of Victorian realism. She had all the visual attributes found in a Victorian styled lady. She possessed gentry as the mistress of Gateshead Hall and her material wealth was made obvious by the luxuries found in her home –“a bed supported on massive pillows of mahogany, hung with curtains of damask”—and in her children “in their Muslim frocks and scarlet sashes.” Besides wealth and gentility, Mrs. Reed also maintained Victorian characteristics of insularity and censoriousness.
Juliet cries a lot when she finds out about her husbands fate. Her parents think that she is grieving about the death of her cousin, but instead Juliet is crying for the murderer of her deceased cousin. The nurse brings Juliet the bad news about Romeo (Juliet’s husband) and Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin). She tells Juliet that Romeo has been banished form Verona for murdering Tybalt, who killed Mercutio. Juliet is devastated by this news and starts to mourn about her banished husband (Romeo). Later that day, Paris comes over to the Capulet residence to talk abou...
Antonio and Sebastian’s nastiness to others does not end here. They continually mock others, particularly Gonzalo and Adrian. In conclusion, Antonio and Sebastian are both evil men who contribute.
Guy de Maupassant uses three literary elements to devise the theme in “The Necklace” that objects can disappoint and trick people just by their appearance. Throughout the story it is highly noted that Madame Loisel wants to be in the upper-class and own expensive things. If she would appreciate her life as a middle-class woman she would learn to live her life in positivity and enjoy everything she has.