The Human Pyramid Symbol Analysis

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 stretched out like a star, standing on the shoulders of his relatives in the midst of a human pyramid. He stands near the top of the pyramid, though a few people stand on his shoulders as well. Ondaatje’s position amidst the pyramid of relatives suggests that he recognizes himself not just as an individual, but in the broader context of his family ancestry—one person amidst hundreds. His position near the top of the pyramid, standing on others’ shoulders symbolizes how his life is built on the legacies of those who’ve gone before him. Likewise, the people standing on his shoulders represent his own children, whose lives will similarly be built on the legacy Ondaatje himself leaves behind.