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The Reader Movie Vs Book

Decent Essays

Thesis: The novel The Reader by Bernhard Schlink and the motion picture adapted from the novel are diverse in many different ways. While both the film and the novel explore Hana’s character and explore her relationship with Michael, many differences can be seen. In the movie and novel, The Reader, the director and the author battle the idea of love and justification in Michael and Hana’s relationship and envision Hana’s character to be drastically different.
Topic 1: Hana and Michael’s Relationship
“Why did you behave as if you didn’t know me” (47)
This is the first glimpse of how the director and author view Hana and Michael’s relationship. Not only does the director cut out the text “You don’t have the power to upset me” (48), as said by …show more content…

In the book, the scene illustrates the power and control Hana has or is trying to gain back in their relationship. The “belt scene” in the movie, however, is Hana slapping Michael after he forces her to kiss her. It seems that every action Hana did in the movie was justified when in the book some actions and scenes including the belt scene seemed unrationed. The director again is trying to express that Hana is not as controlling and manipulative as she is in the book.
Topic 2: Hana’s character
“She had a very strong, feminine body” (15), The body beneath it strong and reliable” (71)
It is apparent in the movie that Hana’s character doesn’t follow Schlink’s description of Hana. Rather than Hana looking like a strong woman with broad shoulders, the audience see’s a gentle, almost fragile type of Hana. The director may be showcasing that they don’t believe that Michael is all truthful in his retelling of the story. This idea is also consistent with the fact that Hana doesn’t show aspects of a “guard” figure, and causes the audience to question whether she really did or wanted to commit the

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