Thanikama - Running in the Family

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‘Thanikama’ – Aloneness

Introduction:

  • Context: takes place in the first chapter of the section entitled ‘The Ceylon Cactus and Succulent Society’ ← name of organization Mervyn made, to keep Lalla out of gardens, therefore chapter is a tribute to Mervyn, reflects his personality
  • Revolves around a day in the life of Mervyn Ondaatje, title reflects his being rejected and surrender to alcoholism as it has lead him to live a life on his own.
  • Reminisces about college reflects on how ridiculous he was back then, general atmosphere has negative vibes, has a general sense of self pity
  • Thesis → Ondaatje’s portrayal of his alcoholic father evokes a sense of pity/sorrow from the reader. Has done this by implementing several important themes → his determined attempts at redemption, the alcoholism that has taken him over, and his loss of direction in life.

Determined Attempts at Redemption:

  • Use of syntax and diction in portrayal of this theme helps to accentuate his determinations to seek redemption
    -‘He sat there all afternoon, hoping she would notice him and come down to speak to him properly, truthfully’ (185)
    -refers to his wife
    -use of constant commas indication anticipation and anxiety, shows how he cannot put his thoughts into order
    -‘hoping’ + ‘properly’ + ‘truthfully’ indicate how he’s tired of being rejected from the important people in his life. Him having to point these out emphasizes his determination for redemption from his wife and in turn evokes pity from the reader
  • He tolerates almost intolerable conditions (heat as portrayed as so powerful earlier in the novel) in order to get a chance at redemption
    -‘he sat out on the blue terrace with the blaze of sun on him’ , ‘not with the other guests and drinkers in the cool shadows of the lobby’ (185-86)
    -earlier on in the novel, the heat in Ceylon is portrayed very powerful and is something one would want to avoid
    -emphasis is put on the literal atmosphere, hot and cold dichotomy, detaches himself from the rest of the guests, therefore highlighting the importance of redemption to him, almost as if he wants to satisfy his inner conscience.
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Alcoholism:

  • Constant reference to this theme suggests it is a measure that Mervyn uses to detach himself from reality
    -‘which he ordered ice-cold, finishing them before the sweat even evaporated from the surface of the bottle’ (185)
    -the antithesis of ‘ice-cold’ and the heat would amplify the rate of which he was drinking his beer
    → this could indicate how he is trying to forget his predicament and trying to make time go faster by having to resort to alcohol therefore evoking pity
  • The alcohol has shaped him into a man who has ruined his relationships, and his ...

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