Answer to Question #2

2. I would have to say that I identify with Patrick the most in this novel. It probably is the easiest to identify with him because of the way Michael Ondaatje portrays Patrick, but I just have so many things in common with Patrick. Ondaatje incorporates the element of pathos throughout this story through the death or leaving of many people in his life such as the death of his father and Alice and Clara’s leaving. However, it is Patrick’s main struggle of finding his identity that I was able to relate to the most. Truthfully, it was only later when we actually talked about the feeling of pathos when it came to my mind. My mind was too set on the same situation Patrick and I faced.

I think I can say that I have had an identity crisis since middle school. Ever since I moved from the United States in the Philippines, I struggled with my identity. I was not sure who I was or where I belonged to. I was made in Korea, so I definitely looked Korean but I had lived in America until sixth grade. I way I thought or acted was definitely more American. This became a huge issue I had to deal with in the Philippines because of decent size of the Korean population in my old school. These Koreans were “Korean” on the outside and inside, so we often clashed. I found myself trying to even it out with my “Korean” and “American” friends. Even now, if anyone asks me where I am from, I struggle with the answer. I want to say Korean, but the American side of me has played such a big part in my life that I just cannot ignore it.

There are smaller things that also made me identify with Patrick. He has this anger inside of him and when he cannot take it any more, he lashes out. This anger was a big reason why he burned down that hotel. I am similar in that I try to hold in my anger. However, if I cannot control my anger, I end up going a little berserk. I usually do things I would normally not do and usually end up regretting a few days later. Additionally, Patrick does not really have many relationships with a lot of people. He isolates himself because of the grief he experiences after Clara leaves him. Whenever I feel sad, I try to stay away from everyone. I think we can also say that he alienates himself even when he is not sad. He does not really have a social life other than his small group of friends, which also reminded me of myself. I guess some may say that all of this can be said to be a part of the element of pathos Ondaatje wanted to create and that I feel I like I identity with Patrick the most because of the sympathy I feel for him. However, I disagree as I mentioned above. I identify with Patrick because it really seemed like I was reading about myself.