The Orchid Thief

of books adapted for film, the example of Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" is an inquisitive one, and in addition one of, if not the, most interesting adaptation. Charlie Kauffman (whose undertaking it was to adequately adjust the book for the multiplexes), with the assistance of a past teammate (director Spike Jonze), broke every one of the principles of adaptation and, in the end, made a masterpiece. Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" is an enthusiastic, journalistic expedition through the lives

individuals must learn to control. However, a certain sense of liberating freedom is also attached to the idea of living in uninhibited by the guidelines that society imposes. “The Jackhammer Syndrome”, a poem by Al Purdy, and Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief present two different narratives concerning the pursuit of personal desire and deal with the consequences that ensue from this behavior. Their characters’ experiences suggest that the unchecked pursuit of personal desires, at the expense of conformity

Syndrome and The Orchid Thief address this idea, introducing the conflict that there is between conformity and personal fulfillment, suggesting that, to follow one’s own desires is the difficult path, but it is the path that leads to true prosperity. For someone to pursue their desires requires them to sacrifice self-consciousness of what other people think of the way they’re living their life. Living life in order to please others is an extreme waste of potential. In, The Orchid Thief, John Laroche

their own unconventional beliefs and values rather than conform to the mainstream society. Through their peculiar thoughts, they will be able to embrace their individualistic characteristics that vastly differ from others. In the excerpt from “The Orchid Thief”, Susan Orlean suggests that despite an individual’s unique, strange actions that others may be unable to comprehend, they are capable of instigating positive changes within themselves and society. Because of their eccentric actions, they receive

from The Orchid Thief, Susan Orlean suggests that when individuals decide to embrace their eccentric beliefs and values, they are capable of instigating unexpected positive change within society and affect other people’s initial perception of them. Furthermore, because of their desire to retain their own unconventional behaviour rather than succumb to the mainstream society, the individual is capable of developing a unique, distinctive identity and earning the respect

“Change is not a choice.” Throughout the movie, Charlie struggles to find a way to adapt “The Orchid Thief,” into a screenplay, eventually working himself into a corner he feels he can’t get out of. Charlie constantly tries and fails to finish the screenplay, until Donald, his twin brother, suspects that the author, Susan Orlean is hiding something and drags Charlie along to investigate. Charlie unwittingly stumbles upon Orlean’s affair with John LaRoche, the main character of her book. Charlie also

this or that decision. The constant process of change or adaptation, as Laroche says above, forces life to progress. This is seen incessantly as a symbol in Charlie Kaufman’s screenplay Adaptation as he masterfully mutates the literature of The Orchid Thief. In analyzing Kaufman’s intricate approach to this challenge the viewer is shown how life and writing are constantly evolving as conflict brings about challenges of adversity. In writing there is a continual flow that the

THE ORCHID THIEF The Seminoles The Seminole Indians are a tribe of Native Americans who are based in Florida but have moved across further and also settled themselves in neighboring Oklahoma. Historically, the Seminole Indians have been successful traders, which are evidenced from their vast trading networks during the periods of Spanish and British colonization of the region. This explains their adeptness at facilitating the trade of rare orchid flowers from Florida to markets in other parts of

Metafiction, Self-Creation”, Julie Levinson writes, “Adaptation is an exemplar of a particular type of metafiction in which the narrative charts its own processes of creation” (Levinson). In short, Adaptation follows Kaufman’s struggles to adapt The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, which is about investigation of the odd plant man, John Laroche. Adaptation was released in 2002, directed by Spike Jonze, and written by Kaufman. The film mocks clichés and typical narrative Hollywood conventions by continually

Kaufman’s adaptation titled The Emperor will be released soon. Though Kaufman stays true to the main plot points, he digs deeper into Harrison’s final stand on the stage. Kaufman is well known for his successful adaptations of other books including The Orchid Thief and his own Being John Malkovich. Kaufman stays true to the roots of “Harrison Bergeron”, keeping both the time and both settings of the short story the same. The movie follows both the plot happening in the dance theater and the plot happening