Micheal Ondaatje creates meaning and representation in The English Patient, through the structure of his novel. The author portrays the sequence of events in a non-linear fashion to incorporate them as a puzzle-like story. The puzzle is significant because, the reader is constantly unraveling the novels excerpts together. Symbolism is an important aspect of these passages because, it provides a better understanding of the issues related to the novel such as, destruction, identity, escape, unity, and love.
Fire is used symbolically and has an appearance in the lives of all characters as a destructive element. Once the bomb is dropped on Japan and, "It rolls across cities like a burst map, the hurricane of heat withering bodies as
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On the other hand, fire is also associated as a cleanser in the condition of the English Patient, where his identity becomes obliterated. The identity of the English Patient is a mystery from the beginning of the novel, since he lives his life as a spy; however, when he is burned he is completely erased of all nationality and begins to go against the English. "What great nation had found him...What country invented such soft dates to be chewed by the man beside him and then passed from that mouth on his." (6), this quotation reflects how the fire has opened up the English Patient into further civilization where no one is labeled or seen as an enemy.
The desert is also a metaphor for identity. It constantly changes and is without borders therefore, it cannot be mapped. Identity is seen in a similar way because, ."..we became nationless. The desert taught me to hate nations," this statement conveys the idea that people are not defined by nations, thus people are indefinable and changing. The image of the desert and water is portrayed together, especially in relation to the English Patient. The English Patient is linked with the desert, while Katharine is continuously associated with water. In order to survive in a desert, water is essential. This combination of water and desert reflects the importance of
In Vergil’s The Aeneid, imagery and description of fire is used heavily throughout each book. It is sometimes seen in moments of love and creation, but is most frequently seen at times of destruction and rage. The common thread of each appearance is that fire is the catalyst that prompts the characters to make a decision or to further an action when otherwise there likely would be no change.
This initial use of the motif fire shows how it could be used to represent the threat of
Transitioning from normal life in California to arid desert, the family experiences an environment where civil liberty is as scarce as water. Though the sun’s intense beams project glimmers of water and freedom upon the desert’s farthest edges, these impressions convey a cruel false sense of reality just out of reach. Water in the desert represents an imagined freedom able to quench the family’s thirst. When the family returns home, they anticipate the sea as well as welcoming neighbors and friends, but are isolated and excluded evocative of the desert. While a recognizable sea breeze wafts through the house bringing with it the reminiscent smell of simplicity and freedom, the family has changed, the neighborhood has changed, and America has changed. Water after the desert represents a fabricated freedom, which falls short of expectation. By considering the absence of water, Otsuka exposes the emptiness and lack of American freedom given to Japanese-Americans during and after World War
Lastly, fire representation has many positive qualities because of the symbolic meaning of the phoenix. The phoenix symbolizes rebirth after destruction by fire. The phoenix represented fire in a good way because it gave people the hope that since the society was burning books it would end in fire and go back to people reading
Fire represents a lot of the things in this novel. A woman name Mrs. Schachter was howling, pointing through the window. “Look! Look at this fire! This terrible fire! Have mercy on me!” (pg 25) Elie said him and the other saw a real fire this time. “This time we saw flames rising from a tall chimney into a black sky.” (pg. 28) Elie said they stared at the flames, “We stared at the flames in the darknes, A wretched stench floated in the air.” (pg. 28) And in front of them the the flaming smoke was the smell of burning flesh.
These all add to the theme of society throughout the entire novel. Furthermore, fire is just like the Force from Star Wars. Since the Force can cause immense pleasure, change to the extremes, and destroy merciless. Fire is the Earthly version of the Force! They both can even be controlled by anyone who learns how to use it. The burning plasma called fire symbolized many things through the novel, but the ones with the most impact on the novel was pleasure, change and
Fire is a symbol that cannot be described in one word. Fire represents destruction, death, hostility, unpredictability, and the potential for limitless violence. Fire, however, also has a good side to it. Fire can be health, hospitality, control, food, shelter, light, and strength. With these characteristics in mind, fire has a number of different connotations. Many of these connotations can be found in one book. Fire, in William Golding’s book, Lord of the Flies, is a complex symbol, representing anarchy and the darkness inside of us, civilization and the light in all of us, and hope, the constant motivator for our survival.
As the war continues, people change how they show passion, and fire shows how some of the soldiers have lost their humanity. Before the war started, everyone had hope. They all hoped that their sons would be gone for a couple months and come back. “She was smoking a cigarette and carrying an empty glass.” (Findley 20) Findley uses Mrs. Ross’ cigarette as a symbol for her hope. She says to him what she thinks he needs to hear in order for him to survive the war. She hopes her words will help him focus on surviving. As the war continues, people begin to lose their warmth. “But only the letters mailed from France were worthy of this exchange. They had to smell of fire.” (Findley 74) The reason the letters would smell of fire would be because fire was destroying and killing things from the area. This shows how the boys like Stuart have lost any type of warmth they once had. The romanticization of war has changed them, so that they no longer cherish the items that could be the last thing they receive from family members, but instead trade them for something better. The soldiers have also lost their humanity. “The weapon with which the Germans now attacked had been introduced at Verdun. It was something called a ‘flame thrower’ and rumours had come down the line describing it.” (Findley 147) Flame or fire, is vital to human survival. It is also a horrible mechanism of death. The German soldiers have lost their humanity since they would
In discussing fire imagery in the Aeneid I will attempt in the course of this paper to bring in an analytic device to aid in assembling the wide array of symbols into a more uniform set of meaning. Consistently throughout the Aeneid, fire serves to provoke the characters to action. Action which otherwise it is not clear they would enter upon. Fire clears the way for the juggernaut plot to advance. Juno, first of all, described as burning - pondering (with her hatred of the Dardans) goes to Aeolus with the idea of sending the winds to create an under-handed storm to destroy the Trojans, at the sight of their fleeing ships and successful escape from the Greeks (I.75)1. Fire from the Greeks burns down
It echoes development of pre-historical civilization or Prometheus in Greek mythology. Hereof the using of fire symbolizes the domination over the world more than the method of survival. Aftermath, the monster is ready to march to the next period of self-education, studying language.
The flames look hypnotizing, seemingly swallowing up the page. The sharp ends and contour of the lines create an almost holographic effect. Satrapi also makes this panel large, about half the page, which further intensifies and dramatizes the other events occurring on the page; in the panels above, Marji and her family frantically dial the telephone to reach their loved ones. In this panel, we fully understand the cause of the suspense they feel. At first glance, it seems that the flames that the taxis escape represent the bombings and annihilation of the border towns. During the violence and danger of the war, we imagine destruction and carnage as the only things the refugees have to leave behind. However, fire also symbolizes protection and passion. The residents of the border towns are not only running from the horrors of war, but are also being forced to forsake their homes, friends, and belongings. Some taxis illustrated are partially engulfed by the flames; those Iranians could not bear to desert their past lives, or did not do so fast
Fire is used frequently in The Iliad, but Virgil utilizes this image in his poem as well. Fire symbolizes both destruction and desire in Virgil’s poem, much like it did in The Iliad. In Book II, Aeneas uses the image of flames to describe the fate of Troy. “But now the
According to Healthy People 2012 there are more then 800,000 new cases of diabetes each year, with the numbers on the rise. With this in mind, Healthy People 2012 has identified diabetes as their number five focus area. In order to reach their goal of improving the quality of life for people with diabetes they have identified diabetes teaching as their number one objective. Furthermore, in order to reduce the number of complications of diabetes, Healthy People 2012 has identified foot ulcers as their ninth objective. Through patient education Healthy People 2012 hopes to reduce the number of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, as diabetes is the number one cause of nontraumatic amputations in the United States. In order to
A twist on the "patient's perspective" approach is to describe a time when medicine failed to save or heal someone close to you. The purpose of this tactic would not of course be to rail against the medical profession, but rather to show how a disappointing loss inspired you to join the struggle against disease and sickness.