In the book "The English Patient",The English patient "whispers again, dragging the listening heart of the young nurse beside him to wherever his mind is, into that well of memory he kept plunging into during those months before he died" [p. 4]. Why does the patient consider himself to have "died"? Does he undergo any kind of rebirth during the course of the story?

Question

In the book "The English Patient",The English patient "whispers again, dragging the listening heart of the young nurse beside him to wherever his mind is, into that well of memory he kept plunging into during those months before he died" [p. 4]. Why does the patient consider himself to have "died"? Does he undergo any kind of rebirth during the course of the story?

Answer 1

In the book "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje, the main character, known as the English patient, considers himself to have "died" due to the traumatic experiences he has gone through during World War II. He carries physical and emotional scars from his time as a spy in North Africa and feels disconnected from his former self. His identity is shattered, and he believes that the person he once was no longer exists.

Over the course of the story, the English patient does undergo a kind of rebirth, not in a literal sense, but in terms of his emotional and spiritual transformation. Through his relationship with the other characters, particularly his interactions with Hana, the young nurse, he begins to find solace and healing. The English patient's memories, shared through his vivid storytelling, help him confront his past, piece together his identity, and find some semblance of redemption.

To fully understand the reasons behind the patient's self-perception of having "died" and his journey towards a kind of rebirth, it is important to read and explore the book further.