Discerning The Truth In Anil's Ghost
Perception, illusion and reality and difficulty of discerning the truth in Anil’s Ghost
Some things are not always as they seem, and it is often difficult to discern what is real and what is not. Anil’s Ghost shows that the perception of concepts such as truth and suffering can be viewed differently between characters. Characters such as Sarath and palipana struggle with perception in several situations. Illusion is also demonstrated through different situations and characters, such as Sarath. He shows Illusion through his relationships and his work with Anil. Reality is also displayed in Anil’s Ghost through Palipana who begins to understand the reality of his life and himself. Lastly, the difficulty of discerning the truth is revealed through …show more content…
Firstly, Sarath does not allow Anil to record specific information about their investigation and remains elusive, even to his partner. Anils tape recorder “lay there forgotten by her. But he [had not] forgotten”(Ondaatje 45). He creates illusion on his and Anil’s investigation because he knows there will be consequences if the wrong people find out. After that, Sarath does not trust anybody, even Anil sometimes, and is sceptical about revealing any details about his job and his life. Anil asks him, “you like to remain cloudy, don’t you, Sarath, even to yourself”? He replies with, “I [do not] think clarity is necessarily truth, [it is] simplicity”(Ondaatje 259). Sarath’s experiences in his life such as his family relationships and secrecy of his work have taught him to create illusion and not reveal more that he has to. Finally, even during one of his and Anil’s last conversations, Sarath remains elusive and does explain himself to her. Sarath tells Anil on the phone, “[I am] in the tunnel of the armoury building. I have just a moment… Do not leave the lab or call me”(Ondaatje 289). Sarath has to be elusive because knows that if him and Anil talk any longer or meet anywhere, then Anil will be in danger for trying to reveal the truth. Sarath shows illusion through his relationship with Anil, his work, and through his experiences in life, similar to how palipana shows understanding of the reality of his
Some things are not always as they seem, and it is often difficult to discern what is real and what is not. Anil’s Ghost shows that the perception of concepts such as truth and suffering can be viewed differently between characters. Characters such as Sarath and palipana struggle with perception in several situations. Illusion is also demonstrated through different situations and characters, such as Sarath. He shows Illusion through his relationships and his work with Anil. Reality is also displayed in Anil’s Ghost through Palipana who begins to understand the reality of his life and himself. Lastly, the difficulty of discerning the truth is revealed through …show more content…
Firstly, Sarath does not allow Anil to record specific information about their investigation and remains elusive, even to his partner. Anils tape recorder “lay there forgotten by her. But he [had not] forgotten”(Ondaatje 45). He creates illusion on his and Anil’s investigation because he knows there will be consequences if the wrong people find out. After that, Sarath does not trust anybody, even Anil sometimes, and is sceptical about revealing any details about his job and his life. Anil asks him, “you like to remain cloudy, don’t you, Sarath, even to yourself”? He replies with, “I [do not] think clarity is necessarily truth, [it is] simplicity”(Ondaatje 259). Sarath’s experiences in his life such as his family relationships and secrecy of his work have taught him to create illusion and not reveal more that he has to. Finally, even during one of his and Anil’s last conversations, Sarath remains elusive and does explain himself to her. Sarath tells Anil on the phone, “[I am] in the tunnel of the armoury building. I have just a moment… Do not leave the lab or call me”(Ondaatje 289). Sarath has to be elusive because knows that if him and Anil talk any longer or meet anywhere, then Anil will be in danger for trying to reveal the truth. Sarath shows illusion through his relationship with Anil, his work, and through his experiences in life, similar to how palipana shows understanding of the reality of his