‘The English
Patient’
By: Michael
Ondaatje
Journals By: Zehra Nasirali
Journal
#1
Date: 7th May 2001
The setting is quite barren and quiet and out in the desert. The nurse sure has guts to stay alone with the English Patient in this villa that appears to be a 'ruin'. Her actions show her courage/ productivity and thoughtfulness. The way she has dedicated her nurturing to the English Patient and how she gently tends to his burns and most of all, I like the way she reads to him. Just from the first chapter it is clear that the nurse is very soft and clean at heart. However, the one little action of hers that got me pondering is that when she would read to him, she would not fill him in of the gaps that she had read on her own time. One day she would tell him 'page 96' and the second day she would continue with 'page 146'. I am certain that all her actions went notable however; the reading bit got me a little annoyed.
Furthermore, I want to talk about the author and his work. It is not an exaggeration when I say that his writing style, syntax and diction used is simply brilliant. His writing style keeps me reading. "In the kitchen she doesn't pause but goes through it and climbs the stairs which are in darkness and then continues along the long hall, at the end of which is a wedge of light from an open door" (Pg. 3). This long sentence incorporates a few images into one well-structured sentence.
Journal
#2
Date: 16th May 2001
It is evident that the author is quite knowledgeable or has done some extensive research on history. Ondaatje mentions lands and tribes that resemble Arabic names very much. I can relate to these names and furthermore am impressed with the difficult tribe names he has chosen. An example: 'the fertile lands of Cyrenaica, the salt marshes of El-Aghaila.' (Pg.19)
As the English Patient describes his treatment by the Bedouins, he is describes as this person who is filled with knowledge. Michael words this piece of information very nicely: I am a man who can recognise an unnamed town by its skeletal shape on a map. I have always had information like a sea in me. I am a person who if left alone in someone's home walks to the bookcase, pulls down a volume and inhales it.' Michael talks about his knowledge in great ways.
The thing that has me confused is the post-modern literature used.
The novel keeps jumping from the English patient's treatments by the tribes and his treatment by Hanna. Did he dream up this treatment or did it really occur"? It really occurred.
Journal
#3
Date: 17th May 2001
As far as I've read in the novel, it seems like there'll be three characters who will be quite influenced by the life and experiences of the English patient. A patient at a hospital in Rome named Caravaggio seems to be a very queer man. It seems he was in individual who wouldn't trust anyone.
Everytime Hana comes to mind, I feel the loneliness she has engulfed herself in. I'm glad that Caravaggio goes to see her even though she doesn't respond with open arms.
Caravaggio also informs Hana of his previous situation of why his arms are bandaged. It seems very weird that he was a naked thief! Who would be a naked thief? The personality he has portrayed so far seems to be that of a decent man and not one of a thief; it is puzzling to figure out his true nature and intentions. Another question is that why exactly did Caravaggio tell Hana, 'Such a strange journey I took in order to find you?' What is he suggesting or trying to impose? Or is he really a war hero and came just to check up on Hana?
Many places in the novel it says, There are unexploded mines all over the place.' Will one of them detonate later on? Is this statement trying to prepare us for some action? Hmmm!
In the second chapter, Hana admits to Caravaggio that she loves the English ''patient when Caravaggio tell her 'You've tied yourself to a corpse for some reason.' How can Hanna love the burnt English patient? Does this have something to do with the death of her father? Perhaps she's caring for the patient to such an extent because she feels she never got to tend to her dying father since she was a nurse. Perhaps.
Journal
#4
Date: 21st May. 2001
As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Caravaggio, an older man, is an uncle-like figure in Hana's life. She's loved him all through the years. There is a man named Caravaggio, a friend of my father's. I have always loved him. He is older than I am, about forty-five, I think. He is in a time of darkness, has no confidence. For some reason I am cared for by this friend of my father.' (Pg. 61)
Two more individuals are introduced to the novel: Kirpal Singh and
Hardy. SQ far Hardy is a soldier that we only know by name and nothing else. But the other soldier, known as Kip, is originally from Punjab and he wears a turban. His actions prove to be very hardworking and he acts like a gentleman. But why has he come to this Italian villa? Most of the time, he is searching for the unexploded mines (again the novel reminds us) and it also seems that he is good at it; 'He was unable to look at a room or field - without seeing the possibilities of weeapons there.' (Pg. 75) He only comes to eat with Hana and Caravaggio and that too he brings his own lunch so as not to bother Hana it may seem.
We also learn that Hana was once pregnant but later purposely lost it because the father, a soldier, had been killed at war and also because her father, Patrick died. There seems to be a strong connection with her actions with her baby and with the English patient to the death of her father. Hmm!
It was also interesting to read that even though the English Patient is bed-ridden, he still is a reservoir of weaponry information and that he can be of major help to Kip.
Journal
#5
Date: 21st May. 2001
Hana continues to read to the English patient every night and as the novel progresses, the reader becomes aware of how well-informed the patient is and how knowledgeable he has to be in order to give a summary or by-heart reading of certain passages that Hana reads. Another incident that I read from the novel was extremely terrifying. It made me want to put the book down in fear of what was to happen next. 'Kip was being pulled into a psychological vortex. With the knife he began to scrape the paint free, revealing a red, a blue, a green. Would his opponent have also switched them?' (Pg. 99) This was when Kip was trying to detonate a mine that had a puzzle to it and worst of all, he didn't know how far the puzzle extended. Then Hana came and insisted on helping him. After the bomb was diffused, it was shocking to learn the real truth behind her insistence on wanting to help Kip. Hana is sick of her life and if the bomb was going to be detonated she wanted to extinguish her life rope with it. When Kip hears of this he is extremely bothered and he knows he must deal with this otherwise every time he tries to defuse a bomb, she'll be there. Moreover, she wanted to die with a person like Kip. This is the first idea we get that her relationship with Kip leads to more than friendship.
It was also shocking to see what a temper Caravaggio had when he shared his thoughts and posed questions to Hana and Kip as to why all three of them are sacrificing their young lives in this place filled with unexploded mines for the sake of the English patient.
"Look at us - we sit here like the filthy rich in their filthy villas up in the filthy hills when the city gets too hot. It's nine in the morning - the old guy upstairs is asleep. Hana's obsessed with him. I am obsessed with the sanity of Hana, I'm obsessed with my 'balance,' and Kip will probably get blown up one of these days. Why? For whose sake? He's twenty-six years old. The British army teaches him the skills and they Americans teach him further skills and the teams of sappers are given lectures, are decorated and sent off into the rich hills. You are being used, boyo, as the Welsh say. I'm not staying here much longer. I want to take you home. Get the hell out of Dodge City." (Pg. 121)
By the end of chapter three, I was yet again shocked to read that Kip and Hana share feelings of passion.
Journal
#6
Date: 23rd May 2001
Wow! What a journey of numerous places and incidents! The English patient often dreams of his past journeys and experiences and shares them with Hana. This time he recalls a very long journey worth two chapters so far. He takes her to different places in South Cairo and fills her with incidents dating between 1930 - 1938 like their experiences at the souks, the desert, his friends and their goal to find the lost oasis of Zerzura. The different tribes they come across were all so interesting and filled with information. One of his friends also got married to a Katharine with whom the English patient relates he had an affair with. And till now her loss, he still sorrows over. (Sob! sob!)
Journal
#7
Date: 24th May, 2001
The novel gets more interesting as Caravoggio shares a few thoughts with Hana, that the English patient might not really be English. After informing her of his few spy stories he concluded that the Englishman might be Almasy, the spy. deciding to drug him with more morphine and alcohol is sneaky yet interesting to see what he reveals. Apart from the war history he also reveal more about his lover, Katharine and how they were temporarily reunited.
Kip also narrates his story to Hana about the climbing of his position at war. I sympathise with him when he says many times that most of the English people wouldn't talk to him. Then he met Lord Suffolk and Miss Morden, the secretary who were the first nice people he'd come across sine' he left his home. Punjab. Sigh sure did come a long way. He narrated to Hana the story of diffusing the second Satan (a 40001b bomb), the first of its type being unsuccessfully diffused and therefore detonated by his commander and master, Lord Suffolk. I was relieved to read of his success Now I know that shall there by any more unexploded mines that might possibly put these four lives in danger. Kip is mart enough to diffuse it. Hopefully!
Journal
#8
Date: 26th May 2001
Chapter 8 teaches the reader a lot about the personalities of Caravaggio and Kip.
Caravaggio: How he was trained to be a thief but is too genuine, slow and 'diverted by the human element during burglaries' to be successful. A funny story is narrated where he attempts to rob a house owned by Indians but instead he finds himself talking to the awaken owners, who convince his curies self into wearing a sarong! The owners ended up chasing him half-naked into the night! Even earlier in then novel, Caravaggio doubts whether his age and wisdom are matched. Through reading about his curious personality but unfortunate success, I don't think he's reached the peak of knowledge. Oops!
Kip: A lot is learned about Kip. His perfection, strive for perfection
After diffusing a bomb with his second in command, Hardy/ he was angry with himself for being too cautious and assuming a trick when there wasn't. Certainly he is hard on himself. Furthermore, when he talks about his father and his brother, the reader cannot help but feel sorry for him even though he himself is not too touched.
‘Is your father still alive?'
'Oh, yes. I think. I've not had letters for some time. And it is likely that my brother is still in jail.' (Pg. 201)
When Hana and Kip get intimate, it is also a relief and happy time for the reader to read that finally both of these individuals who have gone through a lot are sharing some passion.
Journal#9
Date: 26th May 2001
The English patient continues with his story as he promised Caravaggio to tell him how one falls in love.
This chapter is amazing as a lot of truth comes out. The complete story of the English patient and Katharine and final admittance that he is Almasy. After admitting this Caravaggio also fills him in on how the British Intelligence discussed and kept a close eye on him. I'm sure Caravaggio must have been relieved to hear of the English Patient's true identity. It was also a shocking to read that Katharine had passed away. What a heartbreak for Almasy! Poor guy!
Journal
#10
Date: 27th May. 2001
Finally the end of the novel!
We know that Sing was not much like his brother in terms of war so his actions towards Almasy and wanting to hill him was astonishing. I would never had imagined Kip to end up reacting this way; ending the book by never speaking to the English Patient again.
It was a pity that Kip and Hana's relationship did not last very long.
And it was also pinching to read that Kip ended up having a normal family life while Hana became the person that her earlier experiences forced her to become. However, I was also happy when Hana finally wrote to Clara! She needed to talk about her father's death with someone and get it out into the open.
When it comes to the English patient, I guess it was time for him to finally die. After all he did team up with the Germans and back stab his friend Clifton, although the romance part of the novel is what kept he book going.
In conclusion, 'The English Patient' was quite depressing and Michael Ondaatje's language and diction was simply superb!
Teacher’s Comments: Well done! You have your own insights and a good yet different understanding level of the book!