The Constant Gardener Character Analysis

GRADE 12 COMPARATIVE FILM ANALYSIS ESSAY PLAN Sunshine Gordon

List of Ideas:
• Character: John Quayle o Casting: Ralph Fiennes (brit. Actor, not too well known at the time-proves they didn’t cast for popularity) o Presentation: loving, caring, not very empathetic, responsible, then obsessive, determined but more empathetic o Costume: starts off with suit then goes to everyday wear then goes to filthy every day wear, sweat patches & dirt o Character: sensitive, caring, in love, responsible, (to an extent) open to other cultures (boy, car, hospital situation), family-focused- obsessive, determined, cold and yet more empathetic, lost after wife’s decease
• Theme: Empathy in human beings o Danny Archer: learns to be more

Ralph Fiennes, a british actor, was cast for the role. He had- up to that time- not won enough recognition to justify a cast out of popularity. He represents a caring, ethically responsible man whose concern lies primarily with Tessa, his wife. The firstly gentle and sensitive man transforms into a mess driven by obsession about the story behind his (then) late wife who is willing to go to dangerous measures and risk his life. The costume quite fittingly transforms with the character since the firstly professional Justin Quayle in formal attire is found to be dressed in a sweat-stained and filthy t-shirt in the final scenes. Justin Quayle’s character forms a man who seems responsible in his professional and private life, is family orientated and caring. To some extent one could even describe Justin Quayle’s character as open to other cultures than his own since he doesn’t make any racist remarks or comments but since he didn’t take a little boy to the same place he was going out of concern for Tessa, I would describe his character as uncertain of other cultures. Contradicting this, after Tessa’s death Quayle’s character seems to have undergone a change; his prejudice towards Africans had been lost and his empathy grew even though his sensitive character is replaced by a mostly cold and determined nature, willing to find out the cause of death for Tessa Quayle. One could, in my

He learns to be more empathetic after he meets Maddy. She teaches him to, to an extent, open his heart. Danny transforms from self-centered, greedy man to selfless man, helping a Solomon to get out of prison and to find his family. Danny also offers him ‘his half of the diamond’s profit’. His actions are perhaps driven by his own experiences; his parents were murdered by rebels in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe had been in a similar situation at the time as Sierra Leone. After being wounded, while on the run, Danny selflessly decides to throw in the towel and gives Solomon and his son the diamond and with it, a chance of a safe life and