James Bond Compare Contrast - Live and Let Die and You only Live Twice

James Bond Compare/Contrast Essay:

Live and Let Die and You Only Live Twice are two novels written by the British author Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die is about James Bond investigating the trafficking of gold coins into the United States. His journey takes him from New York to Florida, and along the way gets mix up with the most powerful Negro criminal in the world, Mr. Big. With the climax and resolution happening in Jamaica, Bond fears that Mr. Big is one of the most dangerous men he has ever faced. You Only Live Twice is about Bond and his recovery after his wife was brutally murdered by Ernst Stavro Blofeld. His journey takes him to Japan on a mission that M said to be impossible. The mission takes him to an interesting residence named the Castle of Death, were he meets an old enemy revitalized. Bond is even unsure that he can make it out of this one alive. In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting 3 different ideas. I will be comparing and contrasting the characters, themes, and time periods and setting of these books. These ideas are very interesting because they are connected in way you wouldn’t normally realize. The characters in the two novels have many similarities.

The characters in the series of James Bond novels that I read had many similarities. First, in Live and Let Die James Bond comes across as a more warm and friendly character than you would probably expect from a secret 00 agent. With every one of the characters 007 interact with, he is friendly and sociable. An example of this is seen when he is talking to a supporting character and love interest, Solitaire. “’I’ll do my best,’ said Bond. ‘The first thing is for us both to get some sleep. Let’s have a drink and some chicken sandwiches and then we’ll get the porter to put our beds down. You mustn’t be embarrassed.’ He added, seeing in her eye recoil. ‘We’re in the together. We have to spend twenty-four hours in a double bedroom together, and it’s no good being squeamish. Anyway, you’re Mrs. Bryce,’ he grinned. ‘And you must just act like her. Up to a point anyway,’ he added.” Pg.92. This quote shows Bond loosening up to not just Solitaire, but his mission. Bond still has that hint of being a secret agent, but simultaneously being light hearted. Next, Bond has a partner named Felix Leiter, who has been friends with Bond for a very long time. Leiter is like Bonds counterpart in The United States. Leiter tries his best to lift Bonds spirits when Solitaire is kidnapped. “’Come and get drunk,’ he said. ‘This is the bad send to a worse day. Or do you want to play bingo with the oldsters? It says there’s a bingo tournament in the “romp room” this evening.’” Pg. 134. After Solitaire is captured, Bond is in the dumps. He just wants to go and find everyone involved in her capturing and kill them. Felix being Bonds partner tries his best to calm down Bond so he doesn’t do anything