In The Skin Of A Lion Essay

Michael Ondaatje’s 1987 postmodern novel ‘In The Skin Of a Lion’ has shaped and given new meanings when viewed in depth from different perspectives. Through Ondaatje’s continuous ideas on identity and history, through his language and form, this novel continues to be studied in various contexts. The use of poetic language and cellular structure has allowed him to create a piece of literature, ‘never again will a single story be told the same as this one’, which is unique and everlasting.
In The Skin Of a Lion is a worthy critical text providing inspiration which is achieved through its thematic concerns, relationships and creative poetic language explored through different perspectives. Ondaatje’s view on identity and retelling unofficial history created an impact on how I feel about my identity and my future. It captures the modern audiences attention making the considerer what type of character they are. Ondaatje crafts strong, beautiful characters in which enable the audience to be aware of all that we can become through relationships and love. Positive relationships allow us to discover who we are and why we exist in this world, even though at first our role may be difficult to define.
Patrick Lewis is a very significant and
The insects represent transformation and the change that will occur within him later on in the story, and the darkness provides a medium for him to do just that and to discover who he is. We are given a glimpse of his future self when we read on page 20 “Years later, Clara making love to him in his car, “Hey lightning bug!” he had said, laughing offering no explanation.” We see that Patrick has clearly lost his childhood innocence, but he still feels that connection to insects, pointing out that is identity is still