He begins planning his trip to discover his heritage even during a party. Then, I believe that the starting point in his journey of family discovery begins with his Aunt Phyllis who tells of fragments she remembers of the past. She was exceptionally close to his father. I think that discovering something new about architecture on the ceiling is like unraveling the past, there are often details that slip one’s thoughts. As quoted from the text, “there is no point in using a fork and spoon for this meal, I eat with my hands, shoveling in the rice with my thumb, …” this is like a leading towards the eastern culture of using bare hands instead of culinary. Already having sat on a plane and leaving his lifestyle to travel along routes to Ceynor, Ondaatje is edging closer towards his ethnic roots. He even dreams of uncovering family history. It is as though his goals are constantly in his mind. In his dream, how the whole family simply walked through the walls probably symbolizes their non-existence as physical beings.
Ondaatje seemingly really does attempt to learn more about his family’s historical relations, albeit focusing more on quirks and little gossip rather than on cultural history of the place setting. In the beginning of A Fine Romance, the central focus seems to have been on his father. His carefree nature and ways of infuriating the author’s grandfather were mentioned. He was aloof and almost uncaring, “… the great row which my grandfather had looked forward to for weeks and weeks were deflected by my father’s useful habit of retreating into almost total silence, of never trying to justify any of his crimes, so that it was difficult to argue with him…”It can be picked up on that he was irresponsible, even when it came to calling off marriages. How his parents got to know each other was also unveiled.
The role of “Cambridge” in Ondaatje’s father’s generation was mentioned to have been particularly useful despite the fact that none of them had actually really attended the school. He knew enough of the people there to have pulled off
His grandparents’ lavish lifestyle in the twentieth century was also brought up. Supposedly, most of the year was spent in Colombo, while the hot months of April and May were spent in Nuwara Eliya. References were obtained from various family journals. Daily activities consisted of parties, golf, tennis and horse riding. There were also a couple of “tragedies” that Ondaatje made sound more light-hearted. According to the text, both grandmothers lived cautiously until the deaths of their husbands. Only then did they finally blossom. Lalla more notably so. The shock and disapproval of others in “The battle between men and women” depicted humour of that era that would have otherwise been thought of as formal and confined.
Cultural references of the time and popular events included betting. So popular was it that betting on crows in addition to horse track racing. Ondaatje’s relatives were most definitely involved. There were contrasts in the different time and place settings. Even in the past, Ondaatje’s family, especially his grandfather was very much influenced by the west. “Like some other Ondaatjes, Bampa had a weakness for pretending to be ‘English’ and, in his starched collars and grey suits, was determined in his customs.” There was also the mention of visiting England to learn their latest dances.
As “running in the family” progresses, Ondaatje indulges the notion that within his family, love in love affairs were stronger than those in marriages. Gossip and scandal seem to have distorted the truth quite bit, having created an exaggerated fabrication of the actual facts and occurrences.
Towards the end of “A Fine Romance”, Ondaatje’s grandfather and father are once again mentioned. Philip Ondaatje, the grandfather was apparently very strict. In oppose to that, Ondaatje’s father was an alcoholic who did not work at all hard, especially in comparison. As seen in the text, “Whatever “empire” my grandfather had fought for had to all purposes disappeared”. Traveling to his father’s old house in which he used to hide and store alcohol shows his interest in further knowing what kind of a person his father was. Family ties and random things that ran in the family were also brought into perspective. There were the drunks, such as his father and great-grandfather Aelian. In addition to most liking liquor, most blamed diabetes for their hot-temper as well. “… And most were attracted to a family called Prins and had to be talked out of marriage – for the Prins brought bad luck wherever they went”.
In conclusion, Ondaatje’s attempts at resurfacing the historical past of his family have resulted in the remembrance and discovery of tragedies, scandals as well as memories.
