Ishuvi Mahajan

Myth in Michael Ondaatje's Literature: Myth in 'in the Skin of a Lion', 'the English Patient' and 'anil's Ghost' Ishuvi Mahajan

Myth is a worldwide phenemenon, studied by anthropologists in the field, as well as by those who seek the origin of 'Literature' as we understand it today. Philip Michael Ondaatje, a poet, novelist, film maker, editor, photograher, professor; was born on Sept 12, 1943, in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the midst of World War II, to Philip Mervyn and Enid Gratiaen Ondaatje. He inherits multiple racial, ethnic, and socio-cultural hybridities. Michael Ondaatje has shown a profound interest in myth and myth-making. His novels reflect upon contemporary cultural, religious, psychological and social life through the use of myths, folktales and historic legends. Although Ondaatje initially gained his literary reputation as a poet, twice-winning Governor General's Prize before achieving acclaim as a novelist, his fiction has also contributed to his national and international renown. The present book has taken up for the detailed study of the three novels of Michael Ondaatje - In the Skin of a Lion (1987), The English Patient (1992), and Anil?s Ghost (2000). The selected novels have been analyzed from the view point of myth and archetypal perspective.