Miss Corbett
Year 11 English
Comparative Study of Texts – After the First Death and Paradise Now
The novel After the First Death written by Robert Cormier and the film Paradise Now
directed by Hany Abu-Assad both explore the concept of perspectives of terrorism truths and terrorism. The definition of terrorism is dependent on the ideology
underpinning an individual’s perspective. The two texts were composed in different
historical contexts as Cormier lived in the 1970s and the film was released in 2005 but
reflect similar concerns and values in response to terrorist acts and those who enact
them. Each text compels the reader/viewer to examine their own feelings, ethical
beliefs and values in response to terrorist acts and those who enact them and thus
presents that terrorism is too superficially judged.
After the First Death explores the concept of perspectives of terrorism through its
perplexing narrative style. The parallel narrative structure juxtaposes between two
different contexts to give the composer’s multilayered perspective and thus reflects
the composer’s context, values and concerns; guilt/forgiveness, humanity and
corruption of innocence. We see the story of a terrorist act set high on a bridge in
Massachusetts unfold through the eyes of Ben and his father Mark, Miro and Kate as
they narrate their perspectives to us with their own unique style of thought. These
perspectives reflect Cormier’s context/values and concerns; human behind acts of
terror and the corruption of innocence all of which compels the reader to think twice
about judging terrorism. Mark, who is one of the main characters, shows a similarity
of contexts and a contrast of values which underpin their motivations and actions.
They both in live the same context however Mark comes from a military background
as a general. This means that he is methodical and patriotic. This is why his sacrificed
his son, ‘In the service of your country, it is often necessary to perform these deceits.’
The purpose of contrast in the novel is to relate the composer’s message that the
people involved are only human and so they feel guilt and forgiveness, which as a
result compels the reader to examine his/her feelings, beliefs and judgement in
response to terrorist acts. The imagery expressed by Mark is very bitter and violent,
yet very poetic and emotional at the same time: ‘take that sweet plummet into
nothingness as the wind whistles through the tunnel in my chest and the hole in heart.’
This is reflective of the psychological effects of terrorism and makes the perspective
more relatable to us and therefore shows that terrorism is too sophisticated to judge.
Kate and Miro, who are also characters in the text, convey a contrast of contexts and
values which underpin their motivations and actions. Miro’s perspective was
influenced by his upbringing without a family and in a terrorist camp and therefore is
easily influence by the terrorist culture he was forced into. Miro’s actions were still
Shirley Liu
Manly Selective Campus
Miss Corbett
Year 11 English
those of a terrorist shown through is inability to empathise when he chose to shoot
Kate though she tried to comfort him, ‘Kate rocked him gently, the way she rocked
the children on the bus, crooning softly, comfort and solace.’ Miro’s thoughts and
actions are juxtaposed by Kate, her paranoia and attempt to escape is a result of her
context; the western background so she was against terrorist nature. This made her
believe that the terrorist acts committed were sick and the terrorists were seen as
animals ‘while these animals took over the buses.’ She also accentuates the human
element in terrorism, symbolised by her weak bladder control. The purpose of this
contrast is to relate the composer’s context, values and concerns to the human
elements within terrorism, the corruption of innocence shown the shooting of Kate
and also the upbringing of Miro - all of which underline that terrorism is too
sophisticated to judge. The highly modal language in the final section of the novel
‘the bullet smashed her heart’ enhances the chapter bringing reality to the situation; it
makes the perspective more relatable to the reader and thus compels the reader to
slowly judge terrorism.
Similarly, Paradise Now illustrates different perspectives on terrorism - the thoughts
of two suicide bombers, Said and Khaled. Within this film, the viewer gains insight
on contrast perspectives when Suha, the character of moral reason is introduced.
There are themes of humanity, abuse of power and the sophistication of terrorism.
Both Said and Khaled have been brought up in Nablus, so they have similar contexts.
When Suha realises what Khaled and Said’s situation is, she disapproves and the
dialogue between Khaled and her in the car is highly symbolic. Suha articulates the
arguments against suicide bombing. “What happens to those left behind?” she asks.
Her question alludes not only to the grief of surviving loving ones but also the
political fallout from suicide bombing: the tragic pattern of revenge begetting revenge
that will further oppress Palestinians. Her humane voice becomes the movie’s moral
and emotional foundation. Khaled defends himself with “rather have Paradise in my
head that live in this hell” which further shapes the context of Khaled’s world and
how he has been treated. Khaled also reveals what he believes – “we can’t live as
equals, we must die as equals”, “the worst crime of all is to exploit the people’s
weaknesses” from this dialogue the audience can conclude that Khaled values
freedom and equity for everyone.
In the scene when Said reveals his history, the audience discovers that he was born in
a refugee camp and whose father was executed as an Israeli collaborator when Said
was ten. In voicing his anguish, Said shows human elements when he speaks
repeatedly of shame and humiliation and his belief that Israelis have co-opted the role
of victim in the world’s eyes, leaving “the equality of death” the only solution to
oppression. Whilst the camera is very slowly zooming in as he does this, the audience
Shirley Liu
Manly Selective Campus
Miss Corbett
Year 11 English
can conclude that Said values revenge and dignity and these values motivate Said to
do these actions. These values are the rationale that Said has no choice and he is
forced to do these things because of his environment.
The final scene is when Said is sitting on the bus in Israel; the slow zoom goes into
his state of mind in complete silence and thus builds up the climax – this works to
heighten the modality of the text and makes various perspectives more relatable to us.
Suddenly, there is an ultra zoom into extreme close up and instant whiteness. The
effect of this is the tension reaches it complete climax and the audience is
communicating to Said through his eyes. The white screen symbolises ambiguity and
unsettlement as the ending is so vague so therefore the audience is uncomfortable and
disturbed. The purpose of the contrasting values and unsettlement is to exhibit the
composer’s concern of humanity behind acts of terror, the abuse of power and
superficial judgement of terrorism, all of which compel us to examine our own beliefs
in response to terrorist acts and those who enact them.
In conclusion, the novel After the First Death written by Robert Cormier and the film
Paradise Now directed by Hany Abu-Assad both explore the concept of perspectives
of terrorism (truths and terrorism). Use of language features, camera angles and
dialogue shows that each text compels the reader/viewer to examine their own
feelings, ethical beliefs and values in response to terrorist acts and those who enact
and thus, terrorism is too sophisticated to judge and brings out human elements.
Word Count: 1209 (excluding quotes)
Shirley Liu
Manly Selective Campus