The English Patient

A detailed Summary of The English Patient


In the final sections of "The English Patient", Michael Ondaatje uses the developed nature of various characters and reoccurring themes to stage the climax and resolution of the novel.

Once again, Michael Ondaatje uses the reoccurring themes of nationality and identity, symbolism, and the concept of war to create tension between the plot and the characters. Kip, an Indian-Sikh sapper, clearly remembers enlisting in the British Army and training for the bomb squad under Lord Suffolk in 1940. His brown skin is an entity that would always make him a foreigner, where he would be isolated from the world around him. On the contrary, Lord Suffolk became his mentor, accepted him into the English family and treated him equally as well as other soldiers. At various times, it was evident that Kip became closer to his English family in comparison to his Indian heritage. His appearance (dressing in western apparel), and his actions (singing western songs, as well as defusing explosives to save English soldiers) was further proof that this was occurring. As the war progressed, Lord Suffolk and his fellow sappers died from a tragic bombing incident. At this time, Kip explores the idea of being nationless, neither wanting to understand beli


The war provides the climax of the story when Kip hears that an atomic bomb has been dropped on Japan. He sinks to his knees in agony and pain at first, but furiously runs to his tent to grab his rifle soon after. In an instance later, we see Kip holding his rifle at the English Patient's head only to blame the deed on him. We are able to see Kip's true identity later, as he rips all military insignias from his clothes symbolizing the rejection of western ideals forever. His own beliefs that were shaped by the war have been shattered, as the good done in disarming explosives have been counteracted with the dropping of the bomb in Hiroshima. His faith in western society is also lost, in which he hastily leaves Italy without looking back. This portrays the oppression caused by the western powers, and the Kip (the oppressed) turns a cold shoulder and runs away in the opposite direction.

efs of western society nor that of his own Indian heritage. He tries to blame conflict, the death of his friends and his emotional struggles on the orientation of the various nations that are participating in the massacre. His previous beliefs are reverted, and he now sees the war as a battle due to greed and the hunger for power and domination; the same perception as his Indian brother, who sits in jail as he refused to help the English forces. Michael Ondaatje

Some common words found in the essay are:
Michael Ondaatje, Lord Suffolk, War II, English Patient's, Mother Nature, English Patient, British Army, Kip Indian-Sikh, english patient, michael ondaatje, lord suffolk, , reoccurring themes, indian heritage, english family, western society, circle life,

Approximate Word count 916
Approximate Pages 4 250 words per page double spaced

Category: English

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