In The Skin Of A Lion Michael Ondaatje Essay

In the novel, In The Skin Of A Lion Michael Ondaatje anatomizes the relationship between power and language and their effect on oneself establishing a sense of identity. The manipulative language and the complex structure Ondaatje uses explores this idea of power and its inevitable relationship with a sense of identity, which is even further accentuated through use of characterization throughout the novel. Ondaatje shines light on the unheard corners of history to give the disenfranchised migrants a sense of power, which in turn provides them with an enriched sense of self. This is represented in the novel through the migrant workers. Ondaatje expresses this through harsh sensory imagery when describing them, by saying, â€Å"The smell of tar seeps up through the porous body of their clothes. The black of it permanent under their finger nail† This sensory imagery and hyperbole, â€Å"permanent under their finger nails,† allows the reader to empathise with the workers and therefore relate to the harsh conditions in the workplace. In this quote Ondaatje describes the workers through use of impersonal pronouns, â€Å"their†, thus taking away their sense of personal identity. The migrant workers not being allowed to keep their own name further depict lack of identity, seen in quote, â€Å"The labour agent giving them all English Names. Charlie Johnson. Nick Parker.† Enabling the reader to understand the complex effect a person’s identity has when establishing power. Language displays and intricate relationship with power and acquisition of a personal identity. The migrant workers are forced to communicate in English, a language they are not conversant in. â€Å"If they speak in any language other than English, they will be jailed. A rule of the city.† Thus the migrant workers are disempowered thus depriving them of their cultural identity and preventing them from uniting to become a powerful body. Ambrose, on the other hand, is a Canadian that has complete grasp on the English language. He is immediately portrayed as ‘a Jackel, a buying up every field of wealth’ thus representing the gap between the rich and the poor, the native and the foreign and the sense of power that is established through language. The notion of power, and its liaison with identity, is further develop through characterization. Nicholas Temelcoff is a character that shows immense power through his actions, Ondaatje describes him as â€Å"solitary†¦He is burly on the ground and then falls with terrific speed, grace, using the wind to push himself†¦He is a spinner. He links everyone† This description represents Temelcoffs power through his skill and mastery of his trade. Although he may be uneducated, he remains a figure of supreme skill and grace when he is on the bridge. It portrays Temelcoffs heroic nature, which is also an allusion to the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ in which the title is derived from. The use of repetition on â€Å"he is† shows Temelcoff’s masculinity and when intermingled with Ondaatje’s poetic prose he is portrayed as a powerful hero of the story. The audience immediately perceives Temelcoff as a hero and thus sympathizes with him and his plight. There are also distinct parallels between these characters and the Epic of Gilgamesh as the novel follows pattern of Legend, also seen in Christopher Vogler’s writing. Their cyclical nature is further accentuated, as certain lines out of Skin of a Lion are the same from Gilgamesh â€Å"these are the days that belong to the moon†. Thus, Ondaatje characterizes Temelcoff to glorify him and the workers, which in turn results in them being given prominence in the novel. This reveals that Temelcoff’s strong sense of identity, which he has established through his trade, has been crucial for his powerful status in the novel. The nonlinear plot structure that Ondaatje uses, portrays Patrick as having more power as the novel progresses, this enables him to establish a stronger sense of identity. In the chapter of ‘the searcher’ it is evident that Patrick is confused with his identity. Represented in the constant shifts in perspective and also the confusion Patrick shows in his life. When in his apartment, Patrick is described as walking, â€Å"Into the empty rooms, gesturing towards the broken things he was trying to assemble, broken glass and crockery.† Ondaatje uses the state of his apartment as a metaphor to describe the chaotic and disarrayed identity of Patrick, which is powerless and confused about who he truly is. An example of self-reflexivity in the novel is when Alice says to Patrick, â€Å"you reach people through metaphors,† this reflects that Ondaatje intentionally uses these metaphors to develop the story and create textual integrity. The fragmented state of Patrick in ‘the searcher’ is contrasted in the chapter ‘Maritime theatre’ where the writing structure is much more linear. This structure reflects that he has found a purpose and knows his objectives, subsequently leading to a heightened sense of identity; Ondaatje also uses the symbol of dynamite to show the power now has over Harris. When Harris asks Patrick, â€Å"What do you want? Who are you? Patrick replies, â€Å"I am Patrick Lewis.† This expresses the sense of identity Patrick has finally gained throughout the novel finally being able to answer the question of who he really was.