Apocalypse Now is a film that is steeped in references to other works of literary significance \u2013 it is directly inspired by Joseph Conrad\u2019s Heart of Darkness, borrowing much of its subject matter and character names from it. However, I couldn\u2019t help but be reminded of the work of Fyodor Dostoyevsky while watching, which is ironic because Conrad apparently quite disliked Dostoyevsky himself as well as his work (Wood, 2005). The Idiot\u2019s exploration of what happens to a man who is good and moral to a literal fault contains a sense of forbearing and a dark atmosphere throughout, precipitated by Dostoyevsky\u2019s style of writing that is eerily similar to the directorial direction of Apocalypse Now. At one point in The Idiot, Hippolyte states that \u201cIt is better to be unhappy and know the worst, than to be happy in a fool\u2019s paradise!\u201d. This almost perfectly describes that character of Walter Kurtz as, unhappy and knowing the worst, he has built himself his own fool\u2019s paradise that ultimate comes crashing down around him. It is fascinating how works of such different time, character and platform can contain such similar sentiments. So much literature is interwoven, even tangentially, that meaningful comparisons can be found in the most unexpected of places.<\/p>\n
Works Cited
\nWood, James. “Warning Notes from Underground.” The Guardian. N.p., 26 Feb. 2005. Web. 16 Jan. 2016. .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Apocalypse Now is a film that is steeped in references to other works of literary significance \u2013 it is directly inspired by Joseph Conrad\u2019s Heart of Darkness, borrowing much of its subject matter and character names from it. However, I … Continue reading