Running in the Family: Sir John Summary & Analysis

Gillian and Ondaatje visit Sir John Kotelawala at his massive estate, explaining that they are Mervyn’s children. Sir John thinks it an odd connection, since he was not close to Mervyn, but with enough prodding cheerfully recounts various episodes about their father, including the bombs on the train and another where he dove off the train into a paddy field. As they talk, Sir John leads them into the garden with a basketful of scones, which Ondaatje assumes to be breakfast. However, Sir John feeds them to his peacocks and deer.

Sir John tells them of another episode where Mervyn held a man hostage on the beach for hours, convinced he is Japanese. They go back to Sir John’s house for a lavish breakfast, and John loses track of Mervyn and begins a rambling story about someone else entirely. He speaks of his political tribulations and opposition efforts to create scandals. All the while, animals wander in and out of the house. A theatre troupe takes photographs on the ornate lawn.