Change In Captain Corelli's Mandellis, Othello And Pride And Prejudice

Change is an inevitable factor of life that many individuals experience on a daily basis, leading either to extraordinary transformations or deteriorating aspects of an individual’s character. In literature, change is a key element to the understanding of a character’s construction both physical and psychological. Throughout Captain Corelli’s Mandellis, Othello and Pride and Prejudice, transformation of characters explicitly portrays both the uncertainty of one’s true self being, progression or regression due to turbulent relationships. Transformation of characters will be explored in the light of the definition transformation is “a marked change in form, nature or appearance”, whilst also considering the ideology of spiritual and psychological

In Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Mandras is first presented as a typical young man from the Cephalonia Island, however with a spark of difference that caught Pelagia’s eyes. His character is mostly presented and described through Pelagia, who focus mainly at his physical appearance. In contrast, Othello is primarily presented by Shakespeare through his “constant, loving, noble nature”; a soldier who achieved the honour and respect of those surrounding him through his experience and nobility in serving his country, regardless of his appearance. Even though he is considered the “Moor” and is judged by the colour of his skin, his qualities overcome the criticisms – whereas in Captain Corelli’s, Mandras appearance is shown to be the basis of his character. Both writers portray their characters as the heroic figure of their lovers, giving them a purpose to fight and overcome their flaws. Mandras becomes Pelagia’s main

He is a dolphin lover and an Odysseus-like traveler. All of these descriptions portray Mandras as the perfect match for Pelagia. The references do Greek gods and religious characters such as “Eden”; imply that Mandras was a man of one kind, who had within him something especial and different from the other man in the Island. He is portrayed as this strong and vivid character with mystical forces and as described as an “Adonis” he would be man with handsome youth and as a “Poseidon” a man with power and respect. However, from another perspective the references to Greek gods and mythological characters also connotes that his character was actually a myth and doubtful, a fictional character which did not follow human characteristics but instead was an ideal. Mandras relationship with Pelagia leads him to want “something greater” to become “a man”, so he decides to fight “with the name of Pelagia and Greece equally on (his) lips”. The ambition that grows in Mandras transforms his character to be illiterate and contradictory an unworthy suitor for Pelagia. He reveals himself by nature a soldier and not a lover. He becomes a communist by accident, and becomes the victim of indoctrination and ignorance, representing the damage done by extreme politics. His image is completely denigrated once he comes back from war, his body is deformed and all the beauty once seen is