Character Sketch of Patrick Lewis In the Skin of a Lion

-

 


In the Skin of a Lion

-         Michael Ondaatje

                       Character Sketch of Patrick Lewis

The novel In the skin of a Lion is written by Michael Ondaatje. Patrick Lewis is the protagonist of the novel. The first chapter in this novel named “Little Seed” refers to Patrick’s childhood stage and his personality traits. He was born in the rural town of Depot Creek, Ontario, Canada. He resides with his silent father, Hazen, a dynamiter.


Patrick is a keen onlooker of nature and a listener. He watches the hard labor of loggers and hears to the flapping sound of the bugs during his childhood stage. Patrick observes his father’s job from a distance, like a kid. He acquires the skill of his father succeeding through his child – like learning.

After the death of his father in the year 1930, the 22-year-old Patrick moves to the city of Toronto. In the same year a millionaire Ambrose was found missing. Patrick, who takes the job of a searcher goes in search of the missing man. He meets the old man’s wife and gather information about the man. Then he goes in search of the Oldman’s mistress Clara, an actress.

Patrick falls in love with Clara. The relationship grows to a great extend of seduction. Clara invites Patrick to the house of Alice, her friend. Clara is too intimate with her friend Alice which makes Patrick fall in despair. She moves away with Ambrose. Patrick feels heartbroken and isolated. For three years he remains silent thinking his love. With the help of Alice mother, he tries to meet Clara, but Ambrose attacks Patrick when he tries to meet her.

Patrick leaves his previous job as a searcher and arrives to the city to find a new job. He joins with the Macedonian immigrant workers striving hard in the tunnel.  He lives in the apartment of Macedonian neighborhood. He lives alone and works along with the immigrants.  Patrick attends the puppet show organized by the immigrants. He is captivated by the scene and he rushes to the stage to find the actor who was under mask. He was a man who comprehends the frustrations of the immigrants.

 Patrick’s life changes after the arrival of Alice. She has a nine-year-old daughter Hana. Hana has lost her father Cato. Patrick willingly accepts Alice and Hana. But Gods Will be different. Patrick learns about the sudden death of Alice. Her death makes him take revenge upon by bombing a hotel. He adopts Hana, Alice's daughter, whom he loves dearly as a father.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summary for the Play Strife by John Galsworthy

-
Image
                                                                                        Strife -        John Galsworthy Strife is a three-act play written by John Galsworthy. It is his third play and the play highlights the social issues. It was produced in the year 1909 at the Duke of York Theatre. The title “strife” has a biblical meaning which means bitter conflict. The theme in this play is capital and labour. The action takes place on 7 th february at the Trenartha Tin Plate Work. The factory workers involve in a prolonged strike. There arises a conflict between the company chairman John Anthony and the workers leader Roberts. Both are very stern and adamant to compromise. Anthony was the chairman for 32 years and he is determined to fight and win. In his thirty two years of experience he has won four strikes. He was certain that he could win the strike once more. The directors felt unfair about the stern nature of Anthony. The directors were aware about the outcome of this
Read more

Like an Old Proud King in a Parable A. J.M. Smith, Summary for BA Students.

-
Image
  Like an Old Proud King in a Parable A. J.M. Smith The Poem Like an Old Proud King in a Parable was written by the Canadian Poet, A.J.M Smith. This poem appeared in McGill Fortnightly Review in the year 1926. In this poem Smith narrates the story of an Old King who abandons his Kingdom to become a poet. This poem depicts the poetic career of Smith. Smith breaks some of the old poetic conventions and brings novelty into the society. A king is bored to forego the pleasure of the Kingdom. He renounces his kingdom, and leave his flattering courtiers and adoring wife. The king readily sacrifices the existing kingly life and moves to a lonely land, “a meadow in the Northern Stone”. Northern Stone is in the northern parts of Canada, a land of mountain, snow and forest filled with nature. The King rejoices to live his life along the meadow. In the meadow he feels like an uncontrollable swan, “the heart that controlled liked swan”. The King desires to give up his worldly life and aspir
Read more

SUMMARY OF THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE

-
Image
   THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE George Ryga’s , The Ecstasy of Rita Joe is a play about a young Indian girl who comes to the city with great dreams. Her dreams get scattered as she enters the city Vancouver.  Sh e becomes one of the victims of the white man’s violence and control. The Ecstasy of Rita Joe describes the cruel life in the city for the native Canadians, as experienced by Rita Joe. This play explores the supremacy of the Whites towards the native Canadians. The protagonist of this play Rita Joe faces a world of prostitution and abuse. In the beginning act the magistrate reads over the charges levied upon Rita Joe. She is charged for prostitution, assault, stealing, vagrancy, shop lifting and for transmitting sexual diseases. The action of the play develops through the character of Rita Joe. Ryga uses flashback technique to narrate the story of Rita Joe.        Rita has lived in the reservation during her childhood days along with her sister Elieen and father  David Joe.
Read more