Analysis Of Ernesto Che Guevara's The Lives Of Others

When an individual’s assumptions are challenged by significant discoveries, their lives are often transformed. This perspective is represented throughout Ernesto Che Guevara’s eclectic memoir, The Motorcycle Diaries, which details his arguably metamorphic journey through Latin America in the early 1950s and the diverse discoveries he makes, which are personal and political in their nature. Guevara’s varied and confronting encounters throughout his travels challenge his preconceived views of society and himself, leading to a significant alteration of his personal and political life. This notion is also portrayed in my related text, Florian Henckel von Donnersmark’s The lives of Others, a 2006 film which depicts a Stasi captain during the cold …show more content…
When the staunch Stasi captain is assigned to investigate the lives of potentially dissident writer Georg Dreyman and his girlfriend, actress Christa-Maria Sieland, he uncovers the sheer depth of corruption throughout his 1984 East German socialist society which challenges his preconceived views and allows him to form a new, less valued perception of his ideology. This is conveyed through the melancholic score and the diegetic sound of the white noise created by the recording machine when Christa returns after meeting with Minister Hempf. Hempf is a representation of the exploitation throughout his society as he uses his political power to satisfy his own desires. Wiesler’s observation of the devastation caused by the flaws in his corrupt political society challenges his previous political views, transforming his life through the devaluing of his ideology. This shows that although confronting, when an individual’s assumptions are challenged by a political discovery, their lives are transformed through the creation of renewed perspectives of their society. This notion is affirmed by Guevara where he states, ”The person who wrote these notes passed away… at least I'm not the person I once was”, as he clearly …show more content…
Guevara’s travels enable him to discover himself by challenging his awareness of adversity. His initial lack of knowledge of the suffering throughout his society is arguably an assumption about the world due to his upbringing in a relatively comfortable middle class family, therefore he lacked exposure previous to his voyage across Latin America. Guevara’s discovery of inequality, shapes his understanding of himself. This is seen through his introspective entries as they reflect the transformative affects of these encounters. This is highlighted when he recalls his visit with an elderly woman suffering from a chronic illness, “The poor thing was in a pitiful state, breathing the acrid smell of concentrated sweat and dirty feet”. The emotive language and olfactory imagery emphasises his increasing connection with the marginalised as his discovery of adversity has increased his capacity for empathy. On a different level, Wiesler’s renewed awareness of his identity is presented as a consequence of his discovery of freedom and culture which challenges and transforms his ability for introspection. This is shown through the heightened colouring and the mise en scene of the graffiti covered walls in one of the final scenes of the film. The graffiti is arguably a symbolisation of a sense of