Cause And Effect Essay English Literature Essay

Published Date: 23 Mar 2015

In the film "Chocolat" two of the characters are motivated by guilt. The two characters are Serge Muscat, and the Mayor Comte de Reynaud. These two characters are both motivated by guilt, but they happen to be in different ways. The effects of their guilt may have not been as they planned. The confession of their wrong doings would have been better left unsaid. The only reason for their confession could be because of humiliation.

In the film "Chocolat" Serge Muscat is motivated to get his wife Josephine Muscat back. Serge is constantly beating his wife, until one night he is drunk. Josephine beats her husband with a cooking pan. Afterwards she goes to Vianne's house, also known as the protagonist in this film. Josephine goes to stay with Vianne for a while and starts to learn how to make chocolate. Later in the film Serge visits Vianne's house looking for Josephine. He brings her flowers and apologizes, but Josephine refuses to go back. The only reason why Serge has a problem with the altercation is because he is being embarrassed. Serge is getting laughed at because his wife left him, and he feels that it should be the other way around. He eventually goes to talk to the mayor about the situation. Serge tells the mayor that Josephine left him, but does not tell why. He informs the mayor that Josephine is staying with Vianne. The mayor goes immediately to her house not knowing that the cause if Josephine leaving Serge is because she has been beaten. When he arrives he soon finds out that was the reason she left. The Mayor reports back to Serge immediately, and tells him to apologize. This is how Serge is motivated by guilt throughout the film "chocolat".

The Mayor is also motivated by guilt in "Chocolat". The Mayor constantly gossips about Vianne throughout the movie. He thinks of his wife's death and gets frustrated. The mayor goes around telling everyone how that they should be fasting, and not eating what they want. Comete de Reynaud eventually stops taking his own advice. In the end on the movie "Chocolat", the mayor is seen eating the chocolate that Vianne has prepared for an event. Even though Mayor Reynaud was very unpleasant to Vianne in the film she still helps the mayor in this time of need. Comte de Reynaud often gets upset, then looks at a picture of his wife. He tries to do everything for her as if she is still there.

Another character that is also motivated guilt is Vianne. Even though she doesn't look like a bad person she has had problems in her past. Vianne often goes around looking for a place to stay. Whenever the wind blows she thinks that it is time for her to find another home. When she finds her new home she opens up a chocolate shop. She feeds the people in her town chocolate. Vianne convinces them that she knows what their favorite kind of chocolate is. In "Chocolat" Vianne is determined to find somewhere she is welcome. She makes friends with many people, but has a problem connecting with the mayor. The wind symbolizes that something bad is about to occur.

Just like in "The Scarlet Letter" Hester is motivated by guilt. To a certain extent Hester and Vianne are similar. Hester is very independent. Even though she had the "A" branded on her bosom she still walks around with her head up. Just like Hester Vianne constantly switches homes. Eventually Vianne finds a place where she can be comfortable and does not have to worry about other people. Hester and Vianne are also alike because of their child. Both Pearl, and Vianne's daughter are both rebellious. In the film "Chocolat" Vianne's daughter is rebellious when she finds out that they were switching homes again. She goes back and forth with her mother until she breaks the urn that her Grandmother was in. Pearl is also rebellious in "The Scarlet Letter". She often questions Hester about her father. Pearl has mood swings going from happy to sad. This is one way that the "The Scarlet Letter", and "Chocolat" relate.

In "Chocolat" Serge, and The Mayors outcome of their confession is different. Serge end up without Josephine, and the Mayor ends up getting help from Vianne, and the others that helped her prepare the chocolate. Serge can relate to Dimmesdale in " The Scarlet Letter". Serge makes a confession but doesn't tell the whole truth. Like Serge, Dimmesdale goes to make a confession, but no one is there to hear, or watch. Dimmesdale outcome of his confession isn't really different from how his life was at first.

Hester's confession is different from Dimmesdale. Hester was humiliated when she admitted to committing adultery. She walked in shame as people talked about her,judged her, and called her cruel names. In "Chocolat" Vianne doesn't really commit to anything, but as you can see in the beginning of the film they were talking about her, and starring as if she had done something wrong.

These are the many characters in the film "Chocolat", and the novel "The Scarlet Letter". These characters show their guilt, and how their guilt influences them to do better. Even though each and every one of their outcomes might have not been good, they still tried to improve the in the best way possible. A couple of characters had more shame and cruelty upon them than other, but they still managed to be strong and continue living their life strong.