Me Before You Novel and Film Analysis

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“Me Before You” Novel and Film Analysis
The two-hour film, Me Before You directed by Thea Sharrock, is an adaption of the novel Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. In the movie, Emilia Clarke plays the role of Louisa Clarke while Will Traynor is played by Sam Claflin. Despite the differences between the novel and the film, the content remains intact and hence easier for the audience to make connections between the novel and the film (Mallenbaum). By analyzing the similarities and differences between the novel and the film, it becomes easier for the audience to comprehend the role of the film in complementing the novel.
In brief, Me Before You tells the story of Louisa Clark and her relationship with Will Traynor. Due to her family’s financial background, she accepts to work as a caregiver for Will Traynor who is paralyzed. Will Traynor exhibits plenty of cynicism due to his conditions and views life from a negative perspective. However, Louisa believes that she has the ability to influence his views. With time, they grow fond of each other and hence faced with a decision that will have a significant impact in their lives.
One of the similarities between the novel and the film is the personalities of the main characters. The novel depicts Louisa as humble, caring and hardworking in regard to the relationship that she has with the individuals in her environment and her strong work ethic. The same case applies to Louisa in the film whose is also laid back and hardworking.

It can be viewed that the movie serves the role of giving life to the book or rather complements it. The scenes, despite skipping detailed content, align with the novel in which the audience easily makes connections with the flow of concept after reading the novel. One is able to view an actual interaction between the characters as visualized when one reads the novel.
A significant difference between the novel and the book is the beginning or rather how the story begins. The movie begins by introducing the audience to Will Traynor on how he gets into an accident and becomes paralyzed. The scene is then followed by Louisa losing her job at the café (Sharrock). The novel, on the other hand, begins with Louise announcing to her family that she had lost her job. The novel then goes into detail on her family’s reaction and how she lost her job (Moyes).
Another significant difference is in the social interactions. The novel indicates plenty of connection between Louisa and the individuals in her surrounding when compared to the movie. In the movie, the only interaction between Louisa and Frank, her boss at the coffee, is Frank turning the closed sign and handing her a check. When one fails to read the novel, one might view Frank as an inconsiderate employer who cuts off Louisa despite her good relations with the customers (Sharrock). However, the novel includes a detailed conversation between Frank and Louisa in which he provides his reasons for cutting her off and that he felt bad about the choice. Frank is presented as a caring person who even provides Louisa with a three-month salary for her use before she gets another job. The concern from her family especially her parents are also not clearly indicated in the movie. The same case applies to Louisa’s relationship with Patrick in which the movie presents him as a friend rather than her suitor (Moyes).
A distinctive difference between the movie and the novel includes the scenes. The movie skips plenty of details as expected since not every detail in the novel can be included. The details in the book contribute to the wholeness of the story in regard to Louisa environment and the developing connection between Will and her. Some of the scenes not included in the movie are; the conversation between Louisa and Frank on her job, the conversation between Louisa and her parents on the loss of her job and the associated concerns, Louisa’s work at the fast-food chain, and when both Louisa and Will acquire the symbolic tattoos. Other unfeatured scenes include the conversation in the car between Louisa and Camilla Traynor and the attempt by Patrick to grill Louisa concerning the important decision by Will. The novel can be viewed to present a detailed context of the story such that the reader engages in visualizing the associated events.
From an individual perspective, the film does not drift from the novel in terms of exaggeration or emphasis of a particular theme. Also, both the novel and the movie highlight significant lessons such as not judging an individual before knowing them, the implications of toxic relationships and the idea to appreciate oneself rather than allowing others to change your personality. If given the option to select between the novel and the movie, the novel would be the better option because of the detailed content. The details enable one to visualize the scenes and empathize with the characters in terms of emotions and opinions. The novel also opens a wider perspective of the story’s context when compared to the movie. Furthermore, the novel indicates the development of a sequel which one may describe as “me after you” and hence increase the reader’s curiosity about the possible events that may occur in the sequel.
References
Mallenbaum, Carly. “The 5 biggest ‘Me Before You’ book-to-movie changes.” usatoday.com, 2016. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/06/05/me-before-you-book-movie/85453042/
Moyes, Jojo. “Me Before You.” New York: Penguin Books, 2012. Print.
Sharrock, Thea. “Me Before You”.Holywood, 2016.