the beginning, the end, and the new

Creation, Fall, Redemption

Something that I didn't think about as I read this novel was the idea of creation, fall, and redemption. It's amazing and very interesting to see how authors weave these three key points. Not only do these three points create dramatic scenes and plots, they create ways of revealing characterization and identity. Hence, Ondaatje uses specific scenes in the book to invite the reader to be in awe of the use of creation, fall, and redemption through his characters.

Creation, is the beginning and in the beginning Patrick's search for identity is created. Through learning and following the ways of his father, the reader make sense of Patrick blowing up the waterworks. Specifically, by him and his father saving the cow, the reader is able to realize that perhaps the act of saving the cow was a foreshadow of Patrick saving himself from true loss of identity? The 'creation' in this book revolves around the different encounters Patrick faces: searching for Ambrose, meeting Clara, losing Clara, meeting Alice, losing Alice, etc. Of coures, among these encounters the reader is able to find the concept of 'fall' and 'redemption'. However, it is through the creation of Patrick and these encounters that he faces, that allow fall and redemption to occur.

Fall, is the end. However, fall is also what creates redemption. Ondaatje has a way of creating 'creation, fall and redemption' to all be able to weave through the other. Hence, as aforementioned, the creation of the encounters that Patrick faces lead to specific scenes of him falling into disaster. Finding the need to search for Ambrose leads him to find Clara who he becomes so attached to that when she leaves him he finds it indispicable. He "cleans his room on Queen Street obsessively ... then he sits in the only dry corner where he has previously placed cigarettes and smokes..." (82). It's obvious that this is a scene that is created to identify the 'fall' in Patrick. Then, later when he loses Alice, another one of his lovers and sources of finding identity, he blows up the waterworks. Perhaps he feels the guilt and blame for her death. Moreover, the relationship between Alice and Patrick, to me, had much more meaning than the relationship between him and Clara. The reason for this was becaue Patrick was so into Alice and finding more about her and her mysterious 'two-sided' character. She was a very independent girl who fought for the "plight of the immigrant workers" and it was like a duty for Patrick to find out "how she leaps from her true self to her other true self" (153). Hence, after her death, it was like the end of the world and end of finding his identity which led to anger and resentment.

Redemption, is the new. Redemption is when the theme of the story places itself into the midst of all the creation and the fall. It is when Patrick is able to look beyond the tragedies that led to his fall. Redemption was when he met Alice after Clara left him. Redemption was also when Patrick saved the cow because as I said before (in creation) it was the image of him saving the cow that foreshadowed him saving himself from the loss of identity. Also, although the scene of blowing up the waterworks may be seen as a source of 'fall' it can also be seen as redemption because with anger came the mind to blow it up, but the act of blowing it up can be seen as a way to relieve the anxiety and guilt/grief. After all, Harris had only let him go after blowing it up.

However, apart from Patrick, another important scene of redemption is the scene of Clara and Alice. Them meeting the rain with their naked bodies creates a profound beginning forthe two women. Their need to lose and forget their past as well as their weakness had made this scene powerful. Nevertheless, it was also the fact that Clara and Alice had their own power in this scene apart from any presence of a man. The relationship Patrick has with Clara and Alice are crucial when he is finding his identity; it's like he tries to find it in them. That is why the redemption for Clara and Alice is so important. In my opinion, if their redemption had not occurred, Patrick's search for identity would not have been very meaningful.