Analysis of Chocolate

Analyses of Chocolat Chocolat is a 1999 novel by Joanne Harris that tells the story of how a young woman Vianne Rocher frees a little French village from the deceptive control of the village priest Frances Reynaud with the power of her captivating chocolates. In 2000, it was adapted for the big screen in a movie based on Harris' novel. Like many movie adaptations, the original story changes, some more than others. Chocolat, though, does a great job of keeping close to the original story and its characters. However, some of the differences are clear, for example, the narrators, the character relationships, and the antagonists. This essay will specifically interpret the compare and contrast of Francis Reynaud and the Comte de Reynaud, and how their character developments throughout the story affect the climax, as well as how the plots of the two stories may interconnect. In the novel, Vianne instantly conflicts with Pere Reynaud, the controlling, arrogant, priest. It's not that Vianne opens her chocolateria during Lent that offends Reynaud, or that Vianne turns his loyal church goers against him, but he just cannot stand Vianne, for she makes him question himself in the eyes of God. Vianne's very presence is a threat because of it's colorful, distracting ambiance. Reynaud thrives on control, and Vianne's temptations threaten his control over himself. His desire for power blinds him of his true religious beliefs and as the novel progresses, his temptations eventually pull him into complete insanity. In the movie, the writers decided downplay the religious aspects of Pere Reynaud, and wrote in a new, younger priest, who is easily controlled by Vianne's new antagonist, the village mayor, the Comte de Reynaud. In the movie the Comte is still very opposing to Vianne, but far more sympathetic than Pere Reynaud from the novel. While he is still arrogant and controlling, he has good intentions
Neff 2 and seems to be more down to Earth. He cares more about his town