Analyzing Archetypes in Michael Ondaatje's 'In the Skin of a Lion'

This essay provides an archetypal review of Michael Ondaatje's novel, 'In the Skin of a Lion,' focusing on the application of Carl Jung's archetypal theory to analyze the characters and symbols within the narrative. The essay identifies Patrick Lewis as the central hero, whose journey and experiences resonate with those of a tragic hero. Alice Gull is recognized as the sidekick supporting Patrick in his decisions. Key archetypal symbols, including ancient trading cities, docks, immigrant labor, water, and construction sites, are discussed in relation to their significance in the novel. The essay also offers a critical assessment of the ending, suggesting alternative resolutions that could have enhanced the narrative's impact, especially in the context of the tragic hero's journey. The essay uses literary criticism to analyze the characters and the symbols that are used in the novel.

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In the Skin of a Lion: Archetypal Review
5/28/2019
Student Details

ARCHETYPAL REVIEW OF IN THE SKIN OF A LION
In the Skin of a Lion: Archetypal Review
A famous Sri Lankan and Canadian writer writes an amazing novel named In the Skin of
a Lion. This novel was about the struggle made by immigrants in establishing the core
of Toronto city; still, they were not recognized in the history of Toronto. Due to this
novel writer showed the contribution of those immigrants in Canada, by illustrating the
labor they had done even be considered as outsiders of the main society in that era. In
this writing, the novel In the skin of a lion is going to critically analyzed with the help of
Archetypal theory (Jung 15-70).
I personally liked the novel because of the style of writing. It is mesmerizing the way
writer has collected the facts of the past into a beautiful fiction. According to me the
most reminding archetypal character in the novel is Patrick Lewis. Archetypal speaking,
he is considered to be the hero of the story. The stories of other characters of the novel
revolve around Patrick Lewis (KAUR and BHANGU 13-17). Their image and passion
were developed by taking Patrick Lewis life as the base. This makes Patrick Lewis’s
character as a protagonist and a Hero. Other then Patrick, the sidekick of the main lead
is considered Alice Gull. She also had a role of giving support to Patrick in his decisions
and leading him in the right way by being his best friend (Wolfreys 32-56).
In the novel according to me, the basic archetypal symbols that one can notice are the
vibe of ancient trading cities, the dock of the ship, trading by immigrants and their
poverty, water, and the controversial construction sites. These all are considered
archetypal symbols as they remind of same stories of the modern history of Canada and
other similar countries. Among these symbols, the journey of the main archetypal
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ARCHETYPAL REVIEW OF IN THE SKIN OF A LION
character of the novel gives readers an amazing experience. The journey of Patrick
Lewis is considered similar to tragic heroes of other stories or in myths (Yew).
According to literature, the life of every tragic story starts and ends tragically, however
they a so much influence through their characters over the audience, the same goes for
Patrick also. He is considered a tragic hero of this novel.
In the story portrayed by the author of the novel, Patrick Lewis is considered the main
character. At the end of the story, the Patrick planned to place the dynamite in order to
blow up filtration plant and for that he wanted to frame Harris, to get revenge Alice’s
death (KAUR and BHANGU 15-16). However, when everyone knew the actual reason
behind Alice death, Patrick canceled his mission as he got exhausted and fall asleep.
Moreover, after that with Hana, he went to meet Clara. According to be the ending I was
expecting was little big thrilling, in which Patrick somehow would have framed Harris
and then would be feeling guilty about it. On the other hand, the small should not have
been dead; however, the Clara should reach to Patrick by herself in order to confess her
feelings to him.
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ARCHETYPAL REVIEW OF IN THE SKIN OF A LION
Bibliography
Jung, C.G. Four Archetypes. 3rd Edition. London: Routledge, 2014.
KAUR, PRADEEP, and JAP PREET KAUR BHANGU. "NEGOTIATING IDENTITY AND
HISTORY: MICHAEL ONDAATJE’S IN THE SKIN OF A LION AND THE ENGLISH
PATIENT." International Journal of English and Literature (IJEL) 3.4 (2013): 11-18.
Wolfreys, Julian. The English Literature Companion: Palgrave Student Companions
Series. Macmillan International Higher Education, 2010.
Yew, Andrea. "A Space of their Own: Representing Migrant Experience in In the Skin of
a Lion and Me Migrant." 12 May 2017. SARE: Southeast Asian Review of English. 28
May 2019 <https://mjes.um.edu.my/index.php/SARE/article/view/2145>.
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