In this narrative, history coalesces with the personal histories of the characters and builds on a larger theme of war. It is the work of the protagonist to find her way in this maze. This element comes through forcefully in Anil's Ghost as the whole narrative is a collage of old places and memories.

According to Linda Hutcheon, the writer explores postmodern boundaries, weaving together a narrative of the writer's own past. HistoryĪnother significant theme in this novel is that of history. She even leaves her oppressive husband who had curbed her freedom and hence posed a threat to her identity. This identity crisis often affects her thinking and plays a pivotal role in the plot of the novel. She is unsure of whether she belongs to the east or the west. Anil takes on her brother's name to better assert her identity. IdentityĪnother recurrent theme is that of identity in the novel.

The author recounts the stories of countless atrocities that become normalized during the war and talks about how people just vanish during such wars because of state sponsored terrorism. The theme off war is central to this narrative. The story tells the narrative of the countless who fall helpless in the face of war. The entire story is set in the time of the Sri Lankan civil war and shows the futility of war. The most obvious theme that permeates across this novel is that of war. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje