To what extent does the composer effectively communicate the notion of journey in their text?

A journey can often be a very difficult process which involves personal change and development of the individual whom is undertaking the journey, though it only occurs through the way that the various obstacles which are faced by the individual are overcome. Physical journeys provide individuals with the amalgamation of physical movement, whereas, an inner journey allows the individual to learn more about their inner self with the ultimate goal to improve one’s self. The concept of Journey is apparent in Brian Percival’s film The Book Thief, where a driven young girl strives to become educated and find’s a love for literature, leading her to eventual success and Kiera Cass’s romantic novel The Selection, where the protagonist is a young girl trying to find her true love, though not wanting to turn anyone. In consequence, it is the process of a journey which will allow the individual to positively develop, though will depend on the way that they overcome obstacles that will determine their success.

 

Inner and physical challenges can result in the healthy development of an individual undertaking a journey, however, it is result of how these obstacles have been overcome and who has help the individual overcome these obstacles that will determine wheatear the individual is successful in it's journey. In the film The Book Thief, we delve into the journey of illiterate young girl, which eventually find her passion for books and years after becomes published writer. Throughout her journey, Liesel, encounter various inner obstacles which allow her to develop as an individual. One of these being her illiteracy, this is clearly noticed when Liesel is asked to write her name on the board, "Chalk. Board. Name", and is only able to write "XXX". As she did so many of her classmates laughed, though the close up of her writing on the board emphasises how she felt ashamed of not knowing how to write, and ready to give up, "I am running away", as she thinks she has no one to rely on or whom she can trust and ask from help from. It took time and patience from those supporting Liesel, to help her overcome this obstacle. This is reflected through, the sympathetic tone of Hans Huberman when he says, "I am not such a good reader myself, we will have to help each other out." Through this quote, we can see the glimmer of hope which Hans is trying to give Liesel in teaching her how to read, though most importantly we are able to see the effect of his support on the illiterate child and how her motivation (The grave Diggers Handbook) inspires her to want to learn how to read, helping her overcome this inner obstacle she has faced. As this challenge was slowly being overcome many others were encounters by Liesel. One of the ones which resulted in the positive development of Liesel was the unexpected arrival of Max, a German Jew on the run from the Nazi government. The secret arrival, challenges Liesel to be trusted by her new mother as she is sworn to secrecy, though the arrival of Max also allows Liesel to share their common love for books. This is effectively seen in the seen where Liesel tries to steal the book from Max as he is sleeping, with him only replying "You are a curious girl......." This melancholic tone, consolidates how Max's arrival was beneficial to Liesel journey as it gave Liesel someone to relate to as they were both hiding from Hitler, though it helped Liesel learn more about what was actually occurring in Germany and for her to develop a hatred towards the Führer of her country. Consequently, it is through her perseverance and passion for reading that LIesel was able to overcome various different inner obstacles which she faced, though the support from other played a major role in helping her achieve her goal to in learning how to read.

 

Similarly, The Selection, explores the journey of a teenage girl who at a very young age is faced with the decision of who she would like to spend the rest of her life with. America (a teenage girl from the fifth caste) initiates her journey as a stubborn teenage girl madly in love with a boy from the cast below her (Aspen), though as the Selection process commences she slowly develops feelings for a different male (Maxton) and all of her previous plans are a waste now to her. America, on her journey encounters various inner obstacles which she has to overcome, though all these various challenges she faces allow her to develop to become a better person. This can be seen when she is faced with the challenging decision of needing to pick between her secret love for Aspen or her passionate love for Prince Maxton. though it is first noticed when America first arrives at the royal palace, and not wanting to be there in the first place consequently result in her feeling as like she is being caged from her true love "I....I'm afraid my heart is somewhere else.” This colloquial quote, emphasises how already at the beginning of her journey she only though that she would love Aspen for the rest of life, though as she continues to experience life her heart begins to melt every time she sees Maxton, "I had to laugh again at how lost he seemed.” The first person quote highlights how America is feeling more like a friend to Maxton at the beginning, though also feels very guilty for admitting that she had only come to the Selection as she had to earn money for her family, "You mean you need the money?" Which is sympathetically asked by Prince Maxton as he doesn’t want America to leave as he has feeling for her. Though, it took a long time before America admitted there feelings toward Maxton. Though for this to occur she was always supported by ones who loved her. This is expressed in the novel, when Marlee tries to bring sense out of America, "You have to think that there is something attractive about him.” This quote, focuses on America’s stubbornness as she always see the Selection as a negative experience rather than enjoying it. In this novel, Marlee would always be there for America, though her support also came from Maxton and her younger sister May. Though there were still many challenges which faced America, though due to her love for Maxton she always tried to strive. This is seen near the end of the book where, America is talking to Aspen and decides that she is going to try to find out who she truly loves by trusting herself and the decision she makes, "No, I'm not him or you. I'm choosing me." Which emphasises her confusion on who to pick though wanting to give both males a chance. Therefore, through Americas courage and determination to understand who she really loves and who she would like to spend the rest of her life with we see her overcome various different obstacles, though through the support of her friends and her family she was able to strive even in her toughest moments.

 

To commence a journey a motivation is needed to inspire the individual to pursue the chosen path, leading the individual to eventual success in the time to come. In Brian Percival’s film, The Book Thief, we see this critical moment of the motivation for Liesel to want to learn how to read when she pick’s up “The Grave Diggers Handbook”, from her brothers grave. The close up of Liesel in this scene, with a classical non diegetic piece of music in the background while she is collecting the book emphasises how this is a critical stage for the initiation of her journey and how this is going to bring various different obstacles in the future. The importance of this event in the film is also highlighted when we see in the mid-shot where Liesel try to go to sleep holding the book tight in her arms as if she never would like to let it go, though it is especially seen when Hans and Liesel, on the first night after Liesel has attended school commenced reading, “The Grave Diggers Handbook”, also trying to helps Liesel begin her journey in learning how to read. This is particularly noticed when Hans ecstatically says, “We better get started”, knowing that Liesel would be very excited about this and the way it will bring her great joy as she commences her educational journey. This motivation then lead to eventual success for Liesel as it helped her gain the knowledge she would need to continue reading further,and increasingly complex books. This is demonstrated in the ending scene of the movie where the narration by death quotes “By this time, her stories had touched many souls”. The use of the same non diegetic sound of classical music used at the beginning of the film, highlights how at the end of all of her struggles she was still able to strive and achieve great thing. Hence, it is due to all the obstacles she faced and the motivation which allowed Liesel to begin her journey which allowed her to be rewarded greatly in her future, living until the age of 90 with a family and numerous published books where she was able to share her message through.

 

America, in The Selection, had also been rewarded at the conclusion of her journey due to her motivation in the first place, allowing her to endeavour throughout the time of the Selection. In this novel, it is clear that America’s motivation was her will to want to find the man who was right for her. This can be noticed never the mid of the novel when America says, “We were very close to each other, and in spite of the warm summer air, chill ran down my spine.” This quote, exemplifies how America did not know whether to go on or not, though she did know that her an Maxton had something special between them, knowingly she used that as her motivation to continue her journey throughout the Selection, despite all the various obstacles she had to face. This clear motivation is also notice near the end of the book when Prince Maxton says, “America, you call me by my name so often, it was bound to slip out.” As her and Maxton were beginning to become very close emphasising why he was the reason why she is continuing her journey, though also showing how they became very close throughout this process and were rapidly advancing in their relationship. Though America still struggled following the motivation when Aspen unexpectedly arrived at the palace working as a royal guard. He was eventually moved to her room posted, which made America increasingly uneasy and slowly then she found out she still did not know where her hear was taking her. Though her initial motivation led to eventual success for America as by the end on the book she had decided to give both males a chance not settling until she is sure, “the Selection was no longer something happening to me, but something I was actively part of.” Emphasising how she had finally decided to give Maxton and not regretting her decision and also how she didn’t feel like the Selection was a chore for her but it was a choice. To conclude, Americas motivation to find her true love helped her initiate this journey, though it is through this motivation that she had been rewarded greatly.

 

To conclude, it is the way an individual is able to overcome an obstacle and use their motivation as determination which will determine whether their journey will be successful. In The Selection and The Book Thief, the composer very effectively communicates the notion of the journey through the various different element of journey which they use throughout. Furthermore, both of these text showcased the values of an inner journey and the importance of the way obstacles can be overcome by an individual, highlighting how they effectively communicated the notion of the journey in the text. Without these various concept such as the obstacles and the motivation which inspired the individual to undertake the journey, both America and Liesel would not have been able to become the well educated ladies which they are now and they would not be able to have been able to receive the reward they earned by undertaking their journey.