미국 고전 문학의 영화화와 헐리우드의 미국적 남녀 주인공 탄생시키기

Filmization of American Classic Literature and Hollywood Construction of American Heroes and Heroines

This paper aims to explore how Hollywood films transform American classic literature into Hollywood film version and, thereby, construct images of American heroes and heroines in films. This essay compares The Scarlet Letter with the film by Roland Joffe and The Last of the Mohicans with the film by Michael Mann. These two films ultimately try to suggest to the audience the comtemporary 'ideal' images of American man and woman through the representation of heroes and heroines. Joffe's film completely changes the plot and characters of the original text and the film looks like almost a different work. This essay examines why and how the director changes the original text and how he constructs the ideal image of American man and woman, delving into the dramatic changes of Hester and Dimmesdale. I also explore how the director transforms the representation of Chillingworth to highlight the masculinity of Dimmesdale. Michael Mann's film also shows the dramatic changes in the representation of Cora and Hawk-Eye. This essay interrogates how the director constructs American masculinity and femininity through transforming the characterization of Cora and Hawk-Eye. The film ends up, showing Alice's death and Cora's happy ending unlike Cora's death and Alice's happy ending in the novel. I also explore how the film changes Cora's and Alice's destinies to highlight the American femininity through Cora.