A semiotic reading of select novels and their translation into movies

Abstract

Novels and movies are two forms of art which are dominant media in literature. They exhibit a lot of differences with regard to the word and image. There are implications and interpretations that can be drawn when both the mediums are compared. Novels have been the base text for adaptation in the past and will continue to be in the future to be adapted into different types of discourse. However, reading the novel and watching a movie are totally different experiences. In the castaway novels we observe that when human being are torn from society and marooned in a far off place away from civilization they are forced to fight for survival. The true nature is often revealed when there is a threat to life and a strong urge for fulfilling the basic needs, humans usually do not account for their actions. All laws become irrelevant true to the saying all is fair in love and war . Humans often revert to the primitive instincts for survival. To what extent a person would go in order to survive in an adverse situation of kill to survive is a common aspect in the novels which have been translated into a different language of discourse. Writers have tried to explore these questions. The above elements can be observed in Robinson Crusoe and Life of Pi. Golding tries to explore the barbaric qualities that are innate within all people, children being no exception. The elements of authority, innocence and power have been questioned whereas in Life of Pi, the survival instinct is fully explored. The Swiss Family Robinson, the settings and situations differ. The entire family is threatened. In the novel the question what is their reaction to the threat and how they survive as a family is the focus. The writers ability to put the thought into word and the directors ability to replicate the word to image has been attempted in the present study.