In the novel Ransom written by David Malouf and in the film Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood, both show deeply divided worlds and people. Both Invictus and Ransom explore how historical forces divide people into different, often conflicting groups, whether over race, history, culture, or war. Both Malouf and Eastwood illustrate the importance of taking risks to make positive, lasting change. This attitude may include engaging with strangers or even their adversaries to perceive an unorthodox goal. In both Ransom and Invictus there was an ongoing war, with both sides ultimately aiming for revenge. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In both Invictus and Ransom, many characters seek revenge as their ultimate goal, and will do anything to do so. In Ransom Hector takes Patroclus' life, which results in the burning rage that sends Achilles into complete madness "But first he had to deal with the murderer of Patroclus..." His rage-filled body felt no remorse "Yet he felt nothing. Only the tension of the muscles in his forearms...' as he binds Hector's body and continues to drag Hector's corpse along the walls of Troy for the next 11 days. Achilles loses his sense of humanity as he is possessed by the anger, hatred and pain. The separation of the two factions in Ransom is reminiscent of the long division and conflict in the film Invictus. This is demonstrated through the use of the camera during the opening scene of the film, which shows the pale-skinned Europeans , who play rugby on a beautiful green oval that has been well maintained with long, sturdy black gates, separating them from the other side of the road where the darker skinned Africans play football on an abandoned and neglected oval with only a wire fence, poorly maintained. This demonstrates a clear sense of division. After a while, Nelson Mandela is seen pushed between the two opposing sides, which symbolizes his effort and dedication in trying to unite the races and end the ongoing war between the two sides and reunite them. The football side is happy and excited to see Mandela's arrival, while the rugby side is not so excited to see him. As the coach says: "It's the terrorist Mandela." They let him out. Remember this day, guys. It's the day our country went down the drain. This comment reinforces this division and the hatred that Europeans show towards Africans. Both the book and the film show a clear division and hatred between two opposing factions. Both “Invictus” and “Ransom” show early on that there are opposing forces in a seemingly relentless conflict. In Ransom "Achilles" is consumed by hatred for Hector, so much so that he cannot stop trying to destroy Hector's body. Just as Priam addresses Achilles “as a father,” using their common quality, fatherhood, to understand each other better, Mandela also makes the point that you must “know your enemy before you can prevail against him” and so “he learned their language, read their books, their poetry." Mandela attempts to unite black and white South Africans, despite the mutual animosity and distrust fueled by decades of apartheid. Black and white South Africans share almost nothing in common, with significant cultural and social barriers to their reconciliation, including different dialects. Rugby emerges as the most poignant manifestation of this divide as white South Africans support their national team, but black South Africans take the opposing side. The scene where Pienarr and Mandela do.