Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

4 Pages 963 Words

The Part Of Corelli That I Couldn't Live Without. Identify Which Part Of The Book Really Resonated With You Then Justofy Your Choice.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is a novel that has touched many people. Its unique blend of humour with romance and the raw harsh reality of war and how it can affect people’s lives has chimed with many people’s own personal experiences, making it a touching and emotive read.

This is why, when asked to choose just one part of the novel I could pick that resonated with me, I had difficulty. I identified with the character Pelagia, being the only young female character and her ‘courting’ period with Corelli reminded me of some of my own experiences – showing me that in some ways things don’t change over the years. However, it is Carlo whose story I found most compelling. The giant soldier with a heart just as big hiding his sexuality and carrying with him a story of woe was touching and poignant to read.
The part of the novel that I resonated most with was Chapter 19; ‘L’omosessuale 6’, wherein Carlo has to visit the mother of his beloved Francesco who has died in battle. He has to break the news to her and his wife. I found this part of the novel particularly emotive due to the deep interest and concern built up over the characters over the chapters. De Bernieres uses the writing technique of writing in first person for some chapters, using the voices of each character. This helps the reader get a better idea of what they are thinking and gain a better understanding of each different personality. This is vital with a character like Carlo. He carries with him the secret of his sexuality as though it is a disease “I had to live among them secretly, like one who conceals leprosy” he reveals in his second of six specially dedicated chapters in the first half of the book.
This insight into his personality develops over these chapters and he reveals his deep love for his best frien...