Jane Eyre and Whale Rider

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Relationship with nature:

Similarly, the setting of Whale Rider is integral for creating a deeper meaning within the narrative. In the beginning of the film, a close up of the crying babies hazel eye reflects the close of up of a whales eye. The focus of the eye both humanizes the whale and connects the child to the animal, foreshadowing the physical and emotional cohesion between Pai and the emblematic whale. Long and wide shots of the village and surrounding area emphasise the barren countryside and also the poor standard of the housing. The audience are told in Pai’s unique narrative voiceover that this is not a place people stay if they want to prosper. When describing her father she says, ‘He went away. Everybody did.’ We don’t see any other locations so the isolation of the community both in a social sense and in terms of its culture is augmented. The village’s traditional cultural link with the sea is also emphasised throughout the fi lm. It is often visible in long sweeping shots that this is not a tourist destination from the images of the sea in wind and rain. These consistent illustrations of the landscape through advanced film techniques enhance the characterisation of Whangara and its cultural transformation is effectively symbolized by the portrayal of Pai’s surroundings.

The hunger games leading protagonist, Katniss acts as a mould breaking heroine in regard to challenging traditional feminie roles .In similarity to both whalerider and jane eyre, Collins effectively detached Katniss from a traditional feminine role, and crafted a leader who was both revolutionary and independent amongst her politically oppressive surroundings. Collins doesn’t portray a stereotypical ‘strong women warrior’ archetype, which can become a constrictive portrayal of female characters in itself, but rather a leader who possesses such a plethora of qualities, of both traditional ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ nature that can inspire responders to question, challenge and overcome oppressive modes of culture. “My spirit. This is a new thought. I think it suggests I'm a fighter. In a sort of brave way. It's not as if I'm never friendly. Okay, maybe I don't go around loving and smiling at everybody but i do care for people.” Katniss internal reflection ponders the notion of her possessing both bold attributes alongside her inadvertently nurturing nature, whilst implicitly connecting with Pai, who also developed as a ‘fighter’ in her own context. Collins utilisation of first person narration offers a deeper insight into Katniss journey of self-realisation, paired with an authentic sentence structure that mirrors internal thought process, though a mixture of short and long statements that advance the sincerity of Katniss’ revelations.

Katniss’ deep connection to the land is fundamental to her survival throughout her life. Her relationship with the land defines her as a rebel before the story even begins, due to controlling nature of Panem politics. This bond with the natural world and the vitality it gives her is in stark contrast to the dreary hopelessness of the other residents of her community. The symbolic fences dividing humans from the natural environment acts as a continuation of the civilization versus wilderness binary that is a fundamental aspect of colonial and postcolonial culture.“The day is glorious, blue sky and soft breeze. The food is wonderful, with the cheese seeping into the warm bread and berries bursting in our mouth.” Katniss’s vivid description assists in positioning the responder to associate the woods, and the natural world as a whole, with freedom and joy, opposed to the bleak dystopian wasteland of the districts. Katniss’ lifelong immersion in nature that gives her the self-assurance and existential freedom needed to defy the Capitol and ultimately spark a rebellion against its repressive regime.

Conclusion:

Popular culture still values Jane Eyre for its moral and political stance, and for the implicit appropriations it has inspired in today’s culture. Regardless of the aesthetic value of the Whale Rider setting, responders likewise place a social value on the text because of way it challenges societal stigma in such an authentic manner. The common themes of both texts transcend cultures and time boundaries. Both protagonists are female counter stereotypes: neither passive nor submissive, defying the odds of succeeding in a male dominated society. Societal tradition and events culminate in the confrontation of modern versus ancient values, an underlying theme in any time period.