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Dipsomania
The Human Pyramid
The human pyramid represents the Ondaatje family legacy and Michael Ondaatje’s place in it. After spending a day with his Aunt Phyllis, listening to her memories of their family history, Ondaatje envisions himself…
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False Maps
The false maps of Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) that Ondaatje’s brother hangs on his wall represent the unreliability of a singular, Western historical narrative while also demonstrating the way that many personal memories of…
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Dogs
The dogs represent Mervyn’s fears and anxieties which seems to stem from the presence of evil in the world. Before Ondaatje learns about his father’s life, he has a nightmare of Mervyn surrounded by…
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