War and The Game of Representation in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient
Year: 1999
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: In The English Patient, a burned man condemns the politics of nationalism. Generally speaking, the novel has been understood as a celebration of deterritorialization. Few people question the legitimacy of this perspective. This study argues that the patient's view represents only one facet of the debate on war and the politics of representation. By tracing the imagery of games, this study discerns alternative perspectives that counter the patient's position. Ultimately, an awareness of games and postmodern game theory emphasizes that escape from representation is impossible because everyone must take responsibility for his or her own moves in the language game.
Source: Presses Sorbonne Nouvelle eBooks
Author: Marlene Goldman
Institution: University of Toronto
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2902760599