Hannah-Ondaatje-4/11

"The Passion of Lalla" by Ondaatje echoes other authors we have read in terms of religion and superstition. "Shortly after Willie began the dairy he fell seriously ill. Lalla, unable to cope, would run into neighbours' homes, pound on their beds, and promise to become a Catholic if Willie recovered" (158). Catholicism is often representative of "Western" culture, so in this case, Lalla saw it as a chance to get what she wanted from it. On page 162-163, she is seen "flirting" with Catholicism, but decides to leave the church when her brother abandons his fiance (the priest's sister). Mentioned before in class, people often pick and choose what they need from religion and culture. Lalla seems very attached to nature and helping others, but grabs what she can from a non-traditional Eastern culture, such as stealing. But Lalla is a different character, still keeping in touch with everybody, even her ex-fiance and his wife. She dressed her daughter in crazy costumes and hid a murderer from the police.

"A good many of my relatives from this generation seem to have tormented the church sexually. Italian monks who became enamored of certain aunts would return to Italy to discard their robes and return to find the women already married" (163). This was the opposite for Baby Kochamma in Roy's novel because she ended up pining for Father Mulligan and ending up bitter and alone.

"A year later the husband lapsed into total silence and the only sounds which could be heard from his quarters were barkings and later on the cluck on hens. It is believed he was the victim of someone's charm" (158-159). Rene's husband ends up shooting himself and before his death, he acts like an animal. This reminds me of Naipaul and his criticisms of superstition. As if believing his insanity to be because of someone's charm isn't logical at all. But Ondaatje's use of language is very detailed and not slow at all. Naipaul's style of writing was very dry, but Ondaatje uses so many details in each paragraph that it flows  along with the story.

Like Rushdie (and maybe Roy), Lalla's life and her journey to her death was so outlined and elaborate, but once she met her death, that was it. "... and she hit it and was dead" (170). No other explanations. But I guess that's how death really is to some people. You die and that's that.