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Write a 5 page essay on Gods and generals -book vs film vs reality.The point of this piece of writing is not to do a review of this momentous film, but to understand how and where the film departs fro

Write a 5 page essay on Gods and generals -book vs film vs reality.

The point of this piece of writing is not to do a review of this momentous film, but to understand how and where the film departs from the book on which it is based. The methods they used varied and therefore so did the results.There is this common grouse that avid book readers have: the film is not as realistic as the book and has left out huge chunks of what should have been there. It is not easy for a person who has read the book, seen the whole plot unfolding in his mind's eye, literally living the characters whom he holds dear, sharing their joys and crying when they do, to watch the film and find that not all that he imagined is being enacted on the screen. It probably is a gross understatement to say that he feels terribly let down.John Zmirak, writing for the FrontPageMagazine.com has spoken of the film as one that has adhered to historical facts, with a vengeance. In the same write-up, he speaks of the reasons for the formation of the Confederacy, the legitimacy of the cause and the reasons why perceptions of the same have crystallized to what they are today.There is always a lacuna when painting a background in a movie. Though there are countless numbers of film aficionados who would say that a film is a much truer depiction of history than a book, there is a slight vacuum that is created in most movies. Gods and Generals is no exception to this rule. Jeff Shaara's book of the same name talks in great detail the issue of secession of the Southern states. The practice of slavery, the abolition of the same and other related events have not been given due importance in the film. Instead, the movie has focused on the emotions that run sky-high in all the principal characters.

Points of difference:

The power and valor of every single army officer has been highlighted to such an extent in the film that these characters seem to take on a larger than life image, one that is to a certain extent quite unrealistic. The point here to be noted is that it is very common to give real-life characters such images, so that the world will have an extraordinary picture in their minds, when their names are mentioned. This is precisely what has been done with the character of Stonewall Jackson. On the other hand, Burke Davis' book has painted a more human image, one that is plausible and one that seeks to paint the picture of the actual man and how he commanded an army during those battles.

As Dennis Phillips has mentioned in his review on the book by Davis, there is a noticeable shift from the general trend to epitomize the character of Jackson. Davis gives credit where it is due, but does not glorify the commander where it is not necessary. It is this realistic representation that sets this book apart from the many that have been written based on the American Civil War.

William B. Feis in his review on the film has pointed out the lack of depiction of one of the primary causes of the American Civil War. The far-from-true characterization of the slaves on the southern plantations has created a fairly large chasm between the film and the book. This is shown in the relationship between Jackson and his slave, Lewis. Though the film show the latter as one who is proud to be the 'property' of his master, little is done in the movie to show the whole concept of slavery (Feis 6). Is it true then that all or rather, most slaves felt the same emotions as Lewis Maybe and maybe not! There is a common tendency among most film goers to look at one character as a representative of sorts, of a particular group of people. This cannot be avoided. as there is this general tendency to do so, especially when historical facts are involved.

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