ELEVEN READERS CLUB 11/12 discussion

New chosen sons of the North

In the vast land mass of North America, Canada has a rich and diverse community which attracted people and families from around the world chose to move to this country to search for a better and peaceful life. You won't fully decipher how each one struggles and endlessly strive to cope up and adjust to the changing environment, culture and/or discrimination the place has to offer until you read this book. This can amply give an insight about what the novel written by Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion wants us to understand.
Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion narrates the untold stories of those who imparted to the construction of the city of Toronto, particularly immigrants and mere individuals. Once you browse the very first page of the novel, Ondaatje stresses the concern with personal narratives and the act of storytelling: “This is the story a young girl gathers in a car during the early hours of the morning. She listens and asks questions as the vehicle travels through darkness. Outside, the countryside is unbetrayed. The man who is driving could say, 'In that field is a castle,' and it would be possible for her to believe him.”
The quote might express the thought: “It’s never too hard to take the first step.” What Ondaatje hopes to imply in this special section is that the world is full of mysteries once you step out of your comfort zone. It defines how we can be transformed by encouraging ourselves to encounter brand new experiences and bring us to a higher level which can strengthen our personalities - only if we are brave enough and willing to let it modify our whole objectivity. Basically, it simply takes guts and positive thinking to put things right in place.
“This is what history means. He came to this county like a torch on fire and he swallowed air as he walked forward and he gave out light. Energy poured through him. That was all he had time for in those years. Language, customs, families, salaries. Patrick’s gift, that arrow into the past, shows him the wealth in himself, how he has been sewn into history.”
As you read the quote, references to each of the novel's character's view and their egocentricity at a particular time would be found. Patrick's 'revolution' was never been hard to push through. A huge change in Canadian history was depicted by Patrick by behaving courageously and standing on what he believes, and not long enough, freedom-hungry immigrants acted like him to forge their position in the society. With such efficiency and confidence, one can reach a specific desire in his life obliviously as long as he can put it in his thoughts – regardless of what other obstacles he may come across with.
However, before Patrick and his brothers attained such standing in the general public, power disparity between them and the higher-ups, which includes Commissioner Harris, also involved a need of enlightenment and undeliberate revolt. These 'caste-struggles' are highlighted throughout the book in many different ways, such as the operational conditions of the workers, and broaden the fact that “there was no record kept of the workers who died.” In other words, the tool that they have used which led to their freedom comes from many sources, such as body force, money or even from the tip of the gun.
Another factor is, as we all know, race, rather than ethnicity “has become critical in accounting for structures of inequality,” as the workers, who compromises most of the novel's story are those who engages with discrimination - one of these workers is an Italian-Canadian, Caravaggio. He is a victim of a savage, almost deadly attack by inmates. But he isn't your ordinary friend. He was able to escape the discrimination, as well as the jail. Ondaatje trusts us to know that a quality of a human being is more than his enemies can think his capability is. Psychologically speaking, taking pride in what we do, and wise strategies will get you out of your difficulties.
People who moved to this wonderful country enjoy success since they adapted to the country’s customs - not to live as if they were in the place they hailed from, but to make a change while letting themselves achieve maturity. The novel consisted of totally different stories of injustice and insecurity in several cases which can change one's outlook about living in a foreign place.
During these times, the people who struggles in the new lands continuously form changes to contribute to the place and to their own lives as well. It's hugely astounding on how they've been able to polish their might while challenges made these people stand out with pride – until wealth (in various ways) had made its way to their palms as they see themselves as the seed of change.