CRITICAL
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An
Appreciation of The English Patient
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The English Patient is an exquisite novel set at the end of the Second World War. The story begins in the quiet environments of an old monastery. Four people, of different backgrounds and fates, meet and their exploits slowly are revealed as the plot progresses.
Among the four characters, Count Almásy is undoubtedly the most prominent. He appears in the novel totally disfigured and burnt, his "black body" resembling colours of aubergine. He is Hana's "despairing saint", a dragon subdued and confined to his bed. It is a complete contrast to his former days as an explorer where he has complete freedom. The loss of identity and the burnt body symbolises his death of hope. He is unwilling to divulge his identity because of his betrayal of the British. He has no hope for a reunion with Katharine, thus he knows that he is as good as dead.
Initially, Almásy is not attracted by Katharine's youth and liveliness because he is fifteen years her senior. However, he is enticed by Katharine's voice when she read this poem at a campfire.
These then, though unbeheld
in deep of night,
Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none,
That Heav'n would want spectators, God want praise;
Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep;
All these with ceaseless praise his works behold
Both day and night; how often from the steep
Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to other's note
Singing their great Creator …
Katharine, a person matured by the harshness of the desert, becomes contemplative and deep in thoughts. She covets Almásy's Herodotus and becomes interested in Almásy's eccentric behaviour. This results in a strengthening of the bond between them. Their stay in the desert catalyses this because they have to depend on each other for survival. This bond eventually turns into love and suffering for them.
The theme of love is explored in three relationships. There is the traditional marriage of Geoffrey and Katharine Clifton which is unconventional given their disparity in character, the love between Almásy's and Katharine which is unusual because of the difference in age and the already married Katharine. The last relationship is the love between Hana and Kip, because of the different nationalities. Ondaatje does that to show us that the basic differences are set aside in terms of difficulty. In terms of Almásy and Katharine, the treacherous desert draws them closer and love that cannot be hidden and forgotten blossons. In Hana and Kip's case, the war causes them to meet each other at the monastery. The ensuing closeness in the small enclosed community develops their love for each other. Therefore, true love is displayed to occur in difficult times.
When the affair hits Almásy and Katharine's conscience, there is an unwillingness to accept reality. The couple retreated back to their respective shells, refusing to believe in the fact that they love each other. It is only when Almásy rescues Katharine from the burning airplane that the two finally put down their resolute stubbornness and pride to realise that they truly care for each other. This is in sharp contrast with Geoffrey Clifton, who refuses to accept this scandal and attempts a suicide-murder of the trio that is disastrous.
Ondaatje also portrays that love has no boundaries. Society might not accept such a love that disregards nationalities and race, but Ondaatje wants readers to realise that love is omnipresent because they occur even in times of war and suffering. Racial differences were at its worst during the war. It is because of the attempted genocide of Jews by Germans. However, Hana and Kip's relationship is an outstanding contrast to it. In the end there is the acceptance of both, a mutual acceptability by the community at the monastery
In The English Patient, World War Two is portrayed to be one of terrible suffering, where one's fate hangs in the balance. The explosion of the jeep that claims Hana's fellow nurse's life shows the fickleness of life and death. We do not see the Germans in real action, but their deeds leaves much at work trying to repair the damage done. The mines that were left behind cruelly in buildings and roads prevent pursuit and cause the innocent deaths. The mines symbolises Germany's mindless cruelty during the war itself.
In viewing and reading The English Patient, the entertaining side of the plot must not be forgotten in light of the more serious themes. The party singing by the campfire in the desert, the dancing in the balls and the word play between the English Patient and Hana suggests that in life, optimism must always be present, no matter how hopeless a situation is. The English Patient's death of hope and optimism causes the death of his body, his soul and eventually, his life. However, he still lives on at first, re-living his life by reading the Herodotus and flashbacks of the past. "For echo is the soul of the voice exciting itself in hollow places."
The English Patient is truly a marvelous piece of piece of writing. It makes one marvel at the grandeur and the greatness of the desert, realises the suffering and pain of war and gasp at the characters. In the end the characters go through a journey which changes their life forever. The departure of Hana following the English Patient's death shows that there is life after death, hope after suffering and memories after experience.
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