We know this is a powerful pattern in literature. Why? Using your thoughts from class today (Monday, Aug. 25), post your responses about how Ondaatje uses elements of creation/fall/redemption to enhance the message of his novel.
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Creation is seen contextually through the bridge, and the tunnel; although there are other examples of creation throughout the novel this are the most apparent and purposeful of them. They express creation literally and metaphorically. Metaphorically they shape the people involved in their actual creation, in a way they ‘create’ each person as they create the actual object.
Fall is a massive theme throughout the novel, actually ‘fall’ is what Ondaatje is trying to explain throughout about Patrick and his loss. Though the apparent explanations of fall are; Alice’s death, Clara’s abandonment of Patrick, Patrick’s father’s death, and Patrick’s terrorism at the docks. Each one of these affects Patrick tremendously. Alice’s death triggers Patrick’s need to destroy the docks, mostly because he blames himself for the situation. The actual act of blowing up the docks and attempting to flee also is ‘fall’ because it is a moment of realization in his life. His father’s death is one of the earliest examples of fall because it shaped him so much into the emotionless (almost) person we came to know.
Redemption/ restoration’s most apparent elements are Hanna (when Patrick comes out from prison), the cow (when Patrick and his father rescue it), and Patrick’s rescuing the nun. Hanna is more an emotional redemption because of his getting out of prison. While rescuing the cow is more of a foreshadowing of the events of redemption to come, and the icy waters represent to coldness which he will rescue them from; but he needs to ‘submerge himself’ in order to rescue the ‘cow’. When he rescues the nun he is metaphorically rescuing himself as well, because this is the person he will eventually fall in love with and marry.
"YEAH FIRST POST! BOOYAH!" -Blake
Creation is symbolically referenced in this novel through physical structures such as the bridge or the waterworks. It represents connection and exchange built for the benifit of mankind. After his father's death, Patrick moves to Toronto to work at this construction site in hopes of searching for his identity. Here, it seems that Patrick seeks refuge from his confusion and search for identity while building strong relationships with fellow immigrant workers. I speculate that the construction site reminds him of the tiring and yet fruitful labor during his childhood.
Fall is a significant concept in this novel in terms of understanding Patrick's identity and the theme of the story. His father's death, Clara's indifference towards him, Alice's death and other incidents eventually shape Patrick's inner resentment and anger which is magnified by the symbol of dynamites. Patrick's fall is not the only focus in this novel. The harsh working conditions the immigrant workers go through gives a significant impact to the theme. The use of imagery to emphasize the dangerous environment and horrible sense of smell not only portrays the low status of the workers but also evokes pathos from readers.
Redemption from this novel is shown at the end of the novel after Patrick confronts Harris. Here, his anger has passed from reaching the climax and inner peace settles within him. After the flashback ends, Hana appears into the story again which insinuates that his daughter is now his redemption, his reason for moving on from his past. Again, on his way to meet Clara, the car enters the tunnel when Patrick seems a glimpse of light coming from the other side, another glimpse of hope.
As the novel began, there were signs and symbols of “creation” such as Patrick’s childhood with his father among many loggers. When he is eleven years old, he sees a “rare winter moth” which shines brightly in light, then disappears into darkness. The color of the moth is described as “blue” and “turquoise” (20), and when Patrick follows this moth, he finds “something joyous” in the woods. Finnish loggers were howling in laughter, racing each other and were holding a sheaf of cattails which were on fire. Even though the setting is at nighttime, when everything is dark, “light” comes up often such as the moth and the fire, which symbolize “creation” in the midst of darkness. This symbol of creation is more vivid because “this was against the night” when the loggers “could have done that during the day” (22).
There are many glimpses of “fall” throughout the novel and the first greatest fall, I believe, that Patrick experiences is his loss of Clara. Although Patrick loves Clara, Clara does not really love him back and chooses materialism over love. Patrick is rejected by Clara and it is symbolized how Clara, or humans in general, is always changing and how he wants them not to, and this is evident when he says, “You moved. I told you not to. You moved” (81) and he is left hurt, both physically and emotionally. So in the end, Patrick loses Clara to Ambrose.
However, when Patrick has difficulties recovering from this “fall,” Alice comes along and “saves” him. A sign of redemption and restoration is evident when Patrick thinks that Alice came, “not for passion, but to save him, to veer him to some reality” (88). Although this was not the actual beginning of Alice and Patrick’s relationship, this is an introduction of how Alice leads Patrick to the road of redemption and restoration. When his source of redemption, Alice, dies, Patrick experiences another sense of fall, but he reaches Harris and they have a long conversation late in the night. This passage shows another sign of redemption for both Patrick and Harris because by letting Patrick go without arresting him and even calling a doctor to check him up, Patrick is given a second chance to live a restored life with Hana and Clara later on, and Harris is also given a second chance where he will then understand the horrid conditions of the working class and people like Patrick. Although there are many other falls throughout, the novel ends with a feeling of redemption and restoration, overall. The “creation” of the novel started with “light” and in the end, “redemption” is reached by “lights,” also.
Creation in this novel is seen in many of the first scenes of the book where Patrick and his dad are on the farm in Patrick’s past and they are “creating”, in a sense, all of the traits that Patrick uses later in the book. The part where they are fishing the cow out of the waters is a small portrayal of the lengths to which these characters will go for the small token of one cow on their farm. In the same way, Patrick holds on to these values as they lead to main causes of his falls throughout the novel. There are other creations in the book, but I believe these first few pages definitely set the tone for Patrick’s past and reveal some of his key flaws that it ravels into towards the end.
The true reason for his ultimate fall in the end is due all in part to these flaws that build within him. The main falls in the book begin with Clara leaving him. This one event sets off an emotional fall for Patrick that leaves him unstable for the majority of the book. Once he seems to restore from this situation with Alice’s help in the scene between the two of them on pages 86-89 he is hit once again with another barricade of emotion with Alice’s death later in the book. He doesn’t seem to recover so easily from this one as this situation barrels him into revenge and vengeance for what Alice was always seeking in her life. When he is unsuccessful he seems to break down in Harris’ office at the waterworks and pours out his heart. His scene is also a form of restoration and redemption as Harris doesn’t attempt to turn him in or even stop him. He just listens and sends Patrick away. I find this the most selfless of scenes in the book and a true turning point for Patrick into the person he was directed, since he was younger, to be.
It seems to me that the idea of creation was included in the book to portray the fore coming fall. The scenes that represent creation are scenes such as Patrick learning how to blow up logs and learning the power of dynamites. These scenes seem to be an important part of the novel that Ondaatje intended to include because by gaining such knowledge, Patrick later uses these skills to “fall.” It is through the scenes representing “fall” that Ondaatje reaches out to the readers and enhance the theme of grief and how grief can both make you lose yourself/identity and also transform an individual. Other scenes of creation are the building of the bridge and the scene where the nun, Alice, falls from the bridge. The bridge represents the links between the immigrant workers, which all help Patrick’s search for identity. It seems Patrick searches for identity by being with other people. When Alice falls from the bridge, it is implied that after this incident she abandons being a nun, which in a way has created Alice’s new identity. If there was no creation to begin with, Ondaatje’s portrayal of fall would not have suggested enough grief for the readers to understand his message.
The scenes that represent fall are the blow up of waterworks, when Clara leaves Patrick, Alice’s death, and the blow up of dock. These show the readers of Patrick’s anger, symbolized by dynamites, when he goes through a loss, and also shows how Patrick may sometimes react not in a violent way, either way, losing himself and his identity. These help formulate and build up the pathos and the grief of downfall.
Redemption scenes are when Clara and Alice make love, when Alice comes to Patrick after Clara has left, when Harris doesn’t punish Patrick, and the last scene when Patrick and Hana are about to go on a journey. These scenes are vital in attempting to emphasize Patrick’s search for hope and identity by grappling with his grief. Through these we are able to fully realize the theme of grief and identity and hope symbolized by light. It somehow seems a cycle of loss of light/hope and the human struggle to redeem that light/hope.
man, mrs. lavender.. i just cant write anything! all these children already wrote everything i was going to write.
what a pity...tsk tsk tsk.
Creation can be seen through elements such as the bridge or the tunnel. Both the bridge and the tunnels are not only “physically” built, but it also implies the creation of Nicholas and Patrick. While Nicholas and Patrick get involved in the process of building the bridge and the tunnel, they each gradually develop their characteristics. Also, it further aids in creating their own goals or hopes as humans. Also, Patrick’s childhood memories with his dad are crucial in creation of Patrick and it is definitely interesting to compare and contrast Patrick to his tough, strong dad.
Ironically, the whole novel is about fall, but it was quite difficult to find distinct moments that show Patrick’s downfall. I guess it is because many of his falls are implied in the novel. Alice’s death and Clara’s death play key roles in downfall of Patrick. As mentioned during the class discussion, he definitely becomes violent. It seems like Patrick struggles even more with his identity after Clara and Alice leave since he had always relied on Alice and Clara, it is challenging for him to be himself, when he is not even sure about his identity.
Redemption is an important part of this book since the novel is about finding one’s true identity. Alice attempts to find her own identity as she jumps off the bridge. Through this attempt, Alice gets rid of the ‘nun’ and further finds and creates ‘Alice.’ Clara also goes through redemption as Ambrose dies. For a long time, Ambrose had controls over Clara and as he dies, she finally gets her rights to pursue her dream and to be herself. Also, Patrick goes through redemption (sort of) when he meets Alice after Clara leaves him. Though he does not completely find his identity, it at least helps him to loosen up and get over Clara.
This novel is evidently not the happiest of stories and is a tragic tale. The reptition of creation, fall and redemption is seen all throughout this novel as Ondaatje tries to portray loss and the struggle to recover from it. In this novel, Creation is seen usually in the beginning stages of new relationships as well as new journeys. Being educated and exposed to the wonders of dynamite and logging is the creation of a later event because it provided teh basis of Paticks ability to blow up a hotel and dock later on in the story. The bridge is also the beginning of something new as its incompleted state symbolizes the disconnected relationships between on the characters at this initial point of the story as well. Creation is also seen through his job as a searcher because it lead him to a new relatinoship with Clara, who late become his lover, and Ambrose. The first encounter with Alice is also the creation of a new relationship because it was through Clara and the meeting of Alice where he found "love".
Fall is evidently a recurring event in this novel as Ondaatje tries to portray not only patrick's character but shed light on his theme as well. Because it is only through downfalls and the recovery from them that result in salvation, Ondaatje uses this to emphasize Patrick's inability to cope with his losses and grief. Fall is first shown through the death of his father which leads to patrick leaving home and losing his sense of self identity. Clara leaving him for Ambrose is another fall that he goes through and it is through this fall that Ondaatje shows Patricks character as he is unable to cope and wallows in self grief for years on afterward. The death of Alice is another fall as he reacts violently to her death by blowing up the hotel and dock as well as attempting to blow up the waterworks which has symbolic meaning for the plight of the migrant workers, an issue Alice was really dedicated to.
Since creation, fall, and redemption are all intricately interrelated to some extent, it is only natural for redemption to come after a fall. Although there is little glimpses of hope throughout the novel, it doesn't frequently appear. Redemption is found when Patrick meets Alice after Clara left, and he begins a new relationship with Alice whom he becomes to love. Redemption is also shown in the very end as Patrick tells this very story to Hana and Ondaatje purposely ends the novel with the word "lights" to signify a brighter upcoming future. Redemption is also shown through Alice and Clara's sexual encounter because it shows not only the cleansing in the rain but a short burst of female power in a male dominated society. Therefore because creation, fall and redemption are so intertwined with one another, it is only natural for Ondaatje to use all three to get his message across that without self idenity and the coping of loss, one is only doomed to drown in grief.
hey John, don't read my comment.
still though first post. booyah
Great posts so far, guys. And Blake, yes, I am pretty impressed that you had the first post. Whoa! :)
Creation, fall, and redemption is a powerful pattern in literature because it is probably one of the most universal human experiences. It is like the journey symbolism we talked about in class, how almost everything can symbolize a journey, even a walk in the park. Thus, this pattern can said to be the backbone of a novel. However, this does not mean that the pattern will make a novel any less interesting or unique, because there are millions of ways an author can use the basic pattern and tweak it, change it, add to it, etc, to write his/her own message. In the case of In the Skin of a Lion, this pattern is particularly effective because the theme of the novel revolves around this creation, fall, and redemption. Patrick is "created" throughout the beginning of the novel. He is shaped by the people around him, including his father, Clara, Alice, and Ambrose. Then, he experiences fall when Alice dies and he tries to blow up Waterworks. Nonetheless, there is redemption for Patrick when Harris the commissioner chooses to let Patrick off the hook. Patrick eventually learns from his sorrow and starts life afresh, hinted at by one of the last words of the book, "Lights."
In the skin of a lion portrays creation, fall and redemption in the story. Some of the characters in the story are faced with certain hard situations they succumb to, while some seek hope and redemption which they eventually find in the story. Ondaatje uses a lot of creation in this story with physical structures like the bridge and the tunnel. Just like the specific purpose of a bridge is to connect people and profit people, the bridge signifies the connection and profit of the immigrant workers coming together and helping mankind. The tunnel could also serve as a shelter from danger or exposure that Patrick tries to confide in.
Also, Ondaatje makes the most references to the fall of some characters in the book like Patrick when he discusses all his losses and grievances. Patrick loses his father, then Clara his supposed love, then Alice the only one who could finally confide in. After Clara had left him he had found it very hard and difficult to proceed on with life but as time goes on, even without expecting it, he’s able to mingle with Alice and enjoy their relationship. However, it’s only a matter of time before Alice dies and this leaves Patrick in another pit, where he has fallen cripple and numb. Ondaatje relates to the falls in such a way that they connect to each other which reiterate the whole idea of creation and the bridge, it connects his falls together. At the beginning when he loses his father, he’s not able to cope with life alone and this is the beginning of his downfall in life, then it goes on to Clara, then Alice and finally his terrorist attack on the docks.
Despite all his downfalls, Patrick had a bit of hope and redemption through a few things Ondaatje points out in the story like Hannah, the cow and the nun(Alice). After leaving prison he meets with Hannah, who is able in some way to remind him of Alice and give him some hope or at least something to live for. At the beginning Patrick rescues the cow along with his father, which is Ondaatje’s way of assuring the reader that there would still be hope for Patrick despite his adverse situations. Though Alice does die, the act of rescuing the nun served as a symbol of redemption because he barely knew that such an act would reward him with an even better result. He was battling with his love for Clara and was unwilling to move on with life but his rescuing act helps him move on with that phase of life and meet someone he was finally able to trust and eventually marry.
Although we see grief and pathos throughout the novel, Ondaatje enhances this novel by beautifully connecting and portraying many significant elements. In this novel, we first encounter ‘creation’ by the beautiful descriptions of the country’s landscape. This can signify the beginning, the start of something new; maybe it represents the opening of Patrick’s life and start of the interconnectedness of all the characters in the book, or even the beginning of Patrick’s search for his identity. The construction, the building of the bridge could also represent how all the characters are “connected” together or how all Patrick’s experiences link together to help him find his way for the truth. In one of his “experiences”, we encounter the scene with Alice and Clara. Their physical intimacy can represent the creation of power within women and how they desire to hold on to that power. Even though men held the authority and power, this scene portrayed to opposite, how Patrick was powerless and not ‘included’ in their world. This shows a sign of grief and Patrick’s struggle with his identity, his “fall”.
We see one of Patrick’s “fall” when Clara leaves him for Ambrose. This tears him apart leaving him unable to restore into his normal lifestyle. But along comes Alice, and boom! He’s back. Patrick and Alice’s intercourse represents Patrick’s restoration of his life, how Alice helps him get back on track. One element mentioned throughout the book is explosives, which symbolizes pain. We see explosives in Patrick’s father’s job, Alice’s death, the waterworks with Harris, and more; all these scenes that reveals grief are linked with Patrick, which shows how grief is connected with the theme of this novel. Alice’s death is one significant “fall” that helps Patrick lead to his redemption. Although grief and sadness comes along with Alice’s death, Patrick is left with Hana, who gives him hope in his life and releases him from the pain. Another element significant to the novel is “light”. This word is mentioned at the very end signifying the “light” in Patrick’s search for identity and the hope that lies ahead along his road.
The elements of creation, fall, and redemption are imperative because they create the backbone of Ondaatje’s theme and story. Creation is evident in sex scenes of Alice and Patrick, and Clara and Alice because in those moments they are have no problems and are whole. The landscape of the country enhances the message of creation because of the beautiful descriptions as opposed to the descriptions of the city.
The fall is used to emphasize that you can lose yourself in grief. When Clara leaves Patrick for Ambrose it breaks Patrick and he spends 2 years in turmoil because he doesn’t know what to do with himself. Alice’s death is the major fall where Patrick loses himself in grief and turns to terrorism in order to deal with it. Explosives are a motif that relates to the fall because in several of the fall scenes it involves explosions which represents the big change that comes with the fall.
Patrick is restored several times, Alice comes and “saves his life” by sleeping with him while he is grieving over losing Clara to Ambrose. Through attempting to destroy the water works he is transformed and restored. Hana redeems Patrick by giving him a reason to live on. It is also represented through the use of light which is a motif for hope, and Patrick doesn’t have hope until the end of the story.
There are many creation surfacing through out the novel. For Patrick, meeting Patrick, Alice, and Hana is a creation of new relationship, which also symbolizes his new chapter of life. His childhood memories are creation as well, because he often goes back to his past for connections in the present situations he faces. For Caravaggio meeting Gianetta is creation for a new phase of life. Friendship with Alice is a creation for Clara. Their relationship of intimacy seem to ease, and fulfill (at least in some aspects of their life) them.
Patrick's falls are evident in the novel. Patrick's initial fall occurs when his father, Hazen Lewis, dies without passing down any tradition, which may be the reason why Patrick have trouble finding his identity. When Clara leaves Patrick for Ambrose Patrick is in a mess for years. Alice's death causes anger, thus burning the hotel and going to jail. He goes through physical and emotional breakdown. Ambrose death cause fall and creation for Clara. His death forces Clara to leave him yet creates the reunion between Patrick hence the potential of a deeper relationship between Clara and Patrick.
Redemption/restoration is found in Nicholas as he changes his occupation from a labor worker to a baker. It seems like he finally pulled it together by establishing a bakery, which he always wanted to do if he had the ability. Caravaggio seeks his restoration through escape. As he escapes from jail he finds a better person in him, a faithful and loyal husband. Ambrose death applies as redemption/restoration for Clara, because it forces her to break from the chain of superficial life, where money and status is what matters. However, Harris letting go of Patrick is the biggest redemption/restoration in the novel, because it morphed Patrick in subtle, yet in a dramatic way. It is clear that the way Patrick viewed life has changed from sad/anger to possibilities and hope.
Ondaatje uses various symbols to symbolize the creation, fall, and redemption. First of all, for creation, he uses bridge, tunnel, and Caravaggio’s escape of prison. Theses represent creation because bridge connects one place and another and symbolically all people are connected by bridges. Tunnel symbolizes creation because there is a hope in the end of the tunnel where there is light and in the book, people makes connection while constructing the tunnel. The escape of prison symbolizes creation because Caravaggio makes a new life by escaping the prison.
For fall, Clara leaving, Alice dying, and terrorist scene (tunnel), and father dying symbolize fall. The death of his father, Alice, and Clara leaving break Patrick’s heart and he drowns in his self grief. Also, in the terrorist scene Patrick becomes very violent which symbolizes the fall.
For redemption, saving cow, Hannah, saving the nun, escaping scene, saving Alice while she is acting, and Alice’s death symbolizes the redemption.
Ondaatje effectively uses these symbols to enhance his message of the novel and it is very powerful!
Creation, fall, and redemption are motifs the surface throughout the book. Ondaatje uses these motifs to show Patrick’s loss and effort to recover from it. One can see creation from bridges and tunnels. Just like they connect one place to another, bridges and tunnels connect people in this story. People are “created” or shaped through the “creation” of these bridges and tunnels. The nun’s or Alice’s falling off the bridge also symbolizes creation. Her falling off the bridge symbolizes creation because Alice is able to break free from her confined state of being a nun into the women she wants to be. However, this same scene can also be seen as a fall.
That same scene can also be fall because Alice “falls” spiritually. She transforms from a women of God to a women of the world. Therefore, from a spiritual perspective once could say that Alice fell. Death through dynamite related things is repeated throughout the book. Patrick’s “fall” comes from all these deaths. Patrick’s father and Alice both died because of dynamite. Additionally, Patrick tries to blow up the waterworks with explosives, Patrick experiences “fall” from this scene because he does not succeed.
Redemption or restoration can be seen in Alice and Patrick’s sex scene. Patrick was lost before Alice came to “restore” or save him. It is through this relationship that they have that Patrick is able to come back on track and recover. Patrick is able to connect to Alice through Hana. It is through Hana that Patrick can redeem himself for any wrongs he may have committed against Alice. Patrick can try to “restore” that great relationship he had with Alice. Also, the book ends with the word “lights,” which symbolizes the new life he is about to start with Hana and probably Clara.
Elements of creation, fall and redemption/restoration are shown throughout Michael Ondaatje’s book ‘In the Skin of a Lion,’ with symbolisms and metaphors. Also with these elements, the readers can understand the relationships among the characters and characterizations.
Firstly, the motif of creation is portrayed throughout the book with the images of bridge and the tunnel. As the bridge are built in the second chapter of the book, new relationships are created and characters starts to “connect” and “bond” with each other. Tunnel is a road that opens one end to another but also “creates” a new way of approaching to one place.
The motif of fall is described throughout the book with either death or loss of one’s possession or relation. Patrick, the main character of the book is torn and fallen off the track when Alice dies, when Clara leaves and by the death of his father. When Alice dies, Patrick is totally insecure and cannot control himself. He did not speak, meet anyone, smile, etc. Then Clara shows up to save Patrick. However, Clara, who at first seemed to be bring Patrick back on to his life, destructs and let Patrick fall again as she departures. Hazen Lewis’s death obviously causes Patrick to fall as he grew with his father only and due to all the memories.
Lastly, the motif of redemption/restoration is shown with Caravaggio’s escape from prison. Caravaggio’s desire to set him free, restore his life is clearly displayed. Then there is a sex scene between Alice and Patrick. The sex scene is analyzed to be a way of restoring Patrick’s conscious and spirit. Also there is repetition of “lights” in the story. The light symbolizes hope but also a represent a mental restoration.
Ahh... creation fall and redemption. i guess that all of the above individuals have spoken for me, not to mention that this comment is overdue.
because i am cool like that i will start with the redemption element.... personally i find it interesting how in the skin of the lion redemption is often achieved through another individual who is also lacking. it is the person suspended over a massive emptiness that seems to save, and by doing so be saved. we can see this especially in scenes related to alice (her fall from the bridge/visit to patrick).
it is also noticeable that hannah is with patrick in his trip, accompanying him as they move towards the light. it is possible that ondaatje is illustrating that one cannot redeem oneself (and this makes sense as self-redemption is quite an ironical thing), but through the redemption of others one is also redeemed...
........to be continued in a few moments. i am not thinking properly b/c of my sugar-crash.
now i've lost focus...anyway
so based on the theme statement:
"Grief can make you lose yourself & your identity BUT, out of grappling with your grief, hope and transformation of the individual may occur."
i can conclude i have gone off track.
i will reorganize and post something more cohesive later on my own blog....... later
Mrs. Lavender
Perhaps you didn't get my email .. again ..
my blog site is http://joyciiepoo.blogspot.com/
i know i sent it way before friday and i had my blog posts done before friday as well ;;
I guess I have to write my creation, fall, redemption on this comment space? I will do that today!
The 7 people that I've left a comment on are:
Hyojung, Heewon, Emily, Blake, Michelle, and Geehee
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