The Lovely Bones: An Analysis of the Book and Film Adaptation
The Lovely Bones is a haunting story written by Alice Sebold that explores the afterlife of Susie Salmon, a young girl who was raped and murdered by a neighbor who lives just a few doors away from her family. The novel, which spent over a year on the New York Times Bestseller List, has a film adaptation directed by Peter Jackson. This article will provide an analysis of the book and the film adaptation.
The Plot
The Lovely Bones tells the story of Susie Salmon, a teenage girl who is raped and murdered by her neighbor and how her family and friends cope with the aftermath of her death. The story is told from Susie’s perspective as she watches from the afterlife.
The Book
The book is narrated by Susie and focuses on a number of themes such as life after death, grief, and loss. Sebold describes Susie’s afterlife as a beautiful but lonely place where she can watch over her family and friends but can never interact with them or join them. The book is a dark and often disturbing portrayal of the impact of a young person’s violent death on their loved ones.
The Film Adaptation
The film adaptation of The Lovely Bones was directed by Peter Jackson. The film, like the book, tells the story of Susie Salmon’s murder and how her family and friends deal with her loss. However, the film differs from the book in a number of ways. Jackson’s adaptation places more emphasis on the quest for justice for Susie’s death and adds a few scenes that do not appear in the book.
The Characters
Susie Salmon
Susie is the protagonist of the story, and her death is the catalyst for the events that follow. In both the book and the film, Susie is portrayed as a bright, curious, and creative young girl with a passion for photography.
Abigail Salmon
Abigail is Susie’s mother, who is consumed by grief after her daughter’s death. In the film, her character is portrayed as unable to cope with her daughter’s death and leaves the family to start a new life in California.
Jack Salmon
Jack is Susie’s father, who is determined to find her killer. In the film, he is portrayed as a man consumed by grief and struggling to keep his family together in the wake of his daughter’s death.
George Harvey
George Harvey is Susie’s killer, portrayed as a creepy and manipulative neighbor who is ultimately brought to justice.
The Themes
The Lovely Bones explores a number of themes such as:
Grief and Loss
The novel and the film adaptation show how the Salmon family and their friends deal with the aftermath of Susie’s death. It explores how different people cope with grief and how it can tear families apart or bring them together.
Justice and Revenge
The film adaptation puts more emphasis on finding Susie’s killer and bringing him to justice. It explores the themes of revenge and the desire for closure after a traumatic event.
The Afterlife
The book and the film explore the concept of the afterlife and what it might be like. Susie’s experience of the afterlife is portrayed as a beautiful but lonely place where she can watch over her family and friends but can never interact with them or join them.
The Reception
The Lovely Bones received mixed reactions from critics and audiences. The book was a commercial success and received critical acclaim, spent over a year on the New York Times Bestseller List and sold millions of copies worldwide. The film adaptation, however, received mixed reviews and was less successful at the box office.
The Conclusion
The Lovely Bones is a haunting novel that explores the impact of a young person’s violent death on their loved ones. The film adaptation, directed by Peter Jackson, puts more emphasis on the quest for justice for Susie’s death and explores themes of revenge and closure. Although it received mixed reviews, both the book and the film are powerful works of art that ask difficult questions about life, death, and the afterlife.
FAQ
1) What inspired Alice Sebold to write The Lovely Bones?
Alice Sebold was inspired to write The Lovely Bones by her own experience of being raped as a college student. She wanted to explore the themes of grief, loss, and redemption in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
2) Why did Ryan Gosling get fired from The Lovely Bones?
Ryan Gosling gained 60 pounds for his role in The Lovely Bones, but director Peter Jackson did not like his appearance and fired him before filming began.
3) Is The Lovely Bones a true story?
The Lovely Bones is a work of fiction inspired by Alice Sebold’s own experience of being raped and her exploration of the themes of grief, loss, and redemption.
4) Why did Peter Jackson add scenes to the film adaptation of The Lovely Bones?
Peter Jackson added scenes to the film adaptation of The Lovely Bones to emphasize the theme of justice and revenge and to make it more commercially viable.
5) What is the message of The Lovely Bones?
The message of The Lovely Bones is that it is possible to find hope and healing after a traumatic event, even if it involves letting go of a loved one and moving on with life.