The Similarities Between The Novel Ransom and The Film Invictus

In the novel Ransom written by David Malouf and the film Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, both show worlds and people that are deeply divided. Both Invictus and Ransom explore how historical forces divide people into different, often conflicting groups - whether this be race, history, culture, or war. Both Malouf and Eastwood illustrate the importance of risk taking in order to make a positive and lasting change. This attitude may include engaging with outsiders or even their opponents in order to perceive an unorthodox goal. Throughout both Ransom and Invictus there has both been an ongoing war, where ultimately both sides revenge as their goal.

In both Invictus and Ransom many characters seek revenge as their eventual goal, and will go to extreme lengths to do so. In Ransom Hector takes the life of Patroclus, which results in the fiery rage that sends Achilles in complete madness 'But first he had Patroclus' killer to deal with…' His body filled with rage felt no remorse 'Still he felt nothing. Only the tautness of the muscles in his forearms…' as he ties Hectors body and continue to drag Hector's dead body along the walls of Troy for the next 11 days. Achilles loses his sense of humanity as he is possessed by his rage, hatred and grief. The separation of the two factions in Ransom resembles the long division and conflict in the movie Invictus. This is shown through the use of camera work during the beginning scene of the movie, showing the European, paled skin people playing rugby on a nice green oval that has been well maintained with long black, strong standing gates, separating them from the other side of the road. The other side of the road where the African, darker skin are playing soccer on a discarded and neglected oval with just a wire fence, poorly maintained. This shows a clear sense of division. After a while, Nelson Mandela is seen being driven down between the two opposing sides, which symbolizes the effort and dedication of him trying to unite the races and end the ongoing war between the two sides and reunite them. The soccer side of the fence is glad and excited to see the arrival of Mandela, whereas the rugby side isn’t so excited to see him. As the coach states, 'It's the terrorist Mandela. They let him out. Remember this day boys. It's the day our country went to the dogs'. This comment reinforces this division and hate the Europeans show towards the Africans. Both the book and film show a clear division and hate between two opposing sides.

Both ‘Invictus’ and ‘Ransom’ show in there early stages that there are forces opposed in apparently implacable conflict. In Ransom ‘Achilles’ is consumed of hatred for Hector so that he cannot stop trying to destroy Hector’s body. Just as Priam goes to Achilles “as a father”, using their common quality, fatherhood, to further understand each other Mandela, too, emphasizes the point that you must “know your enemy before you can prevail against him” and thus he “learned their language, read their books, their poetry”. Mandela attempts to unite Black and white South Africans, despite the mutual animosity and distrust fostered by decades of apartheid. Black and White South Africans share almost nothing in common, with significant cultural and societal barriers to their reconciliation, including different dialects. Rugby emerges as the most poignant manifestation of this divide as the White South Africans support their national team, but the black South Africans barrack for the opposing side. The scene wherein Pienarr and Mandela meet over tea is symbolic of this sentiment of fostering unity amongst deep divisions. President Mandela literally hunches over to pour the tea for Pienaar, this inversion of status demonstrates his willingness to reduce his dignity as a superior and speak with Pienarr, and by extension, white South Africans, on an equal level, modeling an example of how race relations in his nation should be carried out. This equality is also symbolised by the passing of the tea to Pienaar, the close-up shot where both arms of the individuals are depicted on an equal level reinforces this sense of mutual equality and respect, extolling the virtues of empathy and integrity as a uniting force. Both leaders come down and both use common qualities of the opposing sides to understand and to help unite rival sides.

The two forms, the text and film show a clear sense of division and have similar divide in people and society whether it be due to race or the history of the two sides. In the reformation of the two sides have a similar theme of fatherhood, as President Mandela and King Priam. These characters did not use their power to but using their common knowledge and forgiveness to help unite people in times in need.