I have chosen to discuss the passage that starts on page 76 and ends on the line "symbolize undiscovered rivers" on page 78 in the paperback, Picador edition.
The conversation between Clara and Patrick on pages 76-77 is dominated by Clara, yet they are both revealing and recounting memories associated with their fathers, hence emphasising a shared awareness of a past involving male figures whose remembrance can be revived through their ability to recollect a personal history.
In contrast Alice refers to "holy fathers" which could be an allusion to her past as a nun, which at this moment, we the reader would not be aware of the possible significance that can be attached to this on an initial reading. Although, aspects of her past are revealed later in the narrative when events have moved on from this point, particularly her relationship with Cato. Alice essentially "reveals no past, remains sourceless" and the only direct possible allusion made to her early life as a nun is through the rosary that Hana later takes out of the valise under the bed.
When the "conversation dips again into childhood" the reader has been provided with an insight into incidents from Patrick's childhood from the outset of the novel. This means that they are able to appreciate his reference to his father's occupation and death, since he has been a figure who features early on in the novel. Clara's childhood memory serves to provide an alternative side to her characterisation, as she is actively involved in the act of recalling, which is emphasised by the substantial amount of dialogue she maintains. Her dialogue also illustrates her movement from an innocent understanding of "how to have babies," and provides a contrast to the femme fatale type figure she poses in previous sections. This focus on Clara's background is also established by the position of observer Patrick assumes when he "watches Clara intently" as she begins the dialogue between themselves.
The "undiscovered rivers" on page 78 could imply the geographical nature and cartographic nature of the construction of an official history for Canada, whilst also underlining the absence of those involved in the construction process. Heble makes interesting comments about this in relation to Patrick on page 239, particularly when he discusses the significance of the exclusion of Patrick's place of birth on Canadian maps, which could also be related to the ways in which the perspectives of immigrant workers were largely excluded from official history.
This idea of being excluded from history whether it be public or private is also reinforced through the way in which Patrick's father is "buried in feldspar." There is no grave/burial place in the conventional sense for Patrick or anybody else to strengthen any ties to this figure, unless it be through the act of reminding people of his existence as a "wizard" in a dangerous field of work. It's ironic in a sense that the substance in which his father is buried are objects that are present in public and everyday life, whilst his father will probably never figure in public regard as a presence regardless of his death in a dangerous occupation.
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A forum for class discussion of Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion, as part of Contemporary Canadian Writing 1 at the University of Birmingham, UK
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Room before the tall drop, The Skin of a Lion
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1 comment:
I am glad this this question of the reader’s own knowledge – and position within the narrative – has come up. We may not notice the little clues Ondaatje leaves us about Alice’s identity as the nun until a second reading (I certainly didn’t notice them the first time I read this novel).
You could tie this to a wider point about understanding texts (& history more generally) – one’s own background knowledge affects how (and how well) you are able to understand the novel. Which is all a bit depressing when you consider that most of us do not have time to read all the books we want to even once, let alone more than once (unless we teach them :)). But on the other hand it says something positive about the richness of a text that it can sustain multiple readings.
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