A Comparative Study of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and Mirlohi’s Movie Topoli Based on Hutcheon’s Theory of Adaptation

As comparative studies between works from different cultures get done, the focus shifts from simply comparing and contrasting the outer layers of the subject toward deeper fields like cultural, political, social, etc. As a result, it is essential to examine many more works using this method to intertwine literature with other fields of study, like Art and its various forms, sociology, cultural studies, politics, etc. Topoli (۱۹۷۲) is a movie adapted from John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men (۱۹۳۷), directed by Reza Mirlohi in the period before the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Since cultural differences play an essential role in comparative literature, this research tries to identify how Mirlohi adapts Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and localizes the source text's alien cultural norms accordingly. Using Hutcheon’s instructions on how an adapted work should be viewed, analyzed, and read, both works get studied according to the principles of comparative literature, mainly the French school. Characters, Form, Adapter, Audience, Context, and Culture are analyzed in the same light. The ending results of this research, mostly related to the culture of pre-revolutionary Iran, indicate that Mirlohi made many changes in the process of his adaptation from Steinbeck’s novella to make it localized and appropriate for the audience, all the while staying loyal to the source text.

Keywords:

Comparative Literature , Adaptation , John Steinbeck , Of Mice and Men , Mirlohi