The character I identify the most with is Clara. Clara seems like a very independent character explicitly, but she is actually the most easily-controlled character in the novel. It might seem that she holds power over Patrick because she controls Patrick. However, Clara, herself, is being controlled by Ambrose. Though I am not controlled by anyone, many of the decisions I make in my life are heavily based on other people’s influence. Unlike Clara, I can make my own choice, I am not controlled by anyone and I can do whatever I want to do, but I always pay too much attention to what others say about me or what I am about to do. Many times, these comments or opinions of others influence my decisions. Also, I always dream about changing my life, but I am not brave enough to take a new step like other characters in the novel.
On page 100 it states, “When she reached the house she didn’t go in but went down to the beach and sat facing the water, leaning against the red boat.” In this quote, Clara expresses her desire for a change as she refuses to go back to her house where Ambrose is. Also, when Ambrose went missing, she does not go back to Ambrose immediately. Also, page 74 Clara, Alice and Patrick talk about their childhood, and Clara avoids talking about her present while Alice avoids talking about her past. This scene shows two women’s dissatisfaction of their past and present. I feel pathos for Clara because she is aware of her relationship with Ambrose, but she still seeks for a change by meeting Patrick and being with someone other than Ambrose. Some may criticize Clara for leaving Patrick, but Ambrose had an extreme control over her until his death and meeting Patrick for a short period was all she could do. That was all she could do to seek for her identity.
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More than Ambrose, I think what's controlling Clara is money. Although she loves Patrick, she eventually chooses money (Ambrose) over Patrick and leaves him devastated. I am not so sure if Clara is controlled so completely by money. She still makes the decision to visit Patrick when she wants. I guess it would be more correct to say that Clara is heavily influenced by wealth. On page 100, after Clara leaves Patrick to go to Ambrose, it says "She felt somehow deliriously happy between the two poitns of this journey."
Hyo Jung, I appreciate what you have written about Clara and how you connect that to some of your own issues in establishing autonomy in your life. I believe this is a huge issue for many people, particularly women in general. I think that Ondaatje is actually presenting some very real and painful problems through the character of Clara and, if we put on our feminist lenses for awhile, I think he is saying a lot about issues of gender and power and control in our society. Great post.
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