Invasion+and+Imperialism

Why is this theme important? What is this theme all about?
(sub topics - invasion symbolism, Sri Lanka's colonial history, the physical changes in the country due to empire, invasion's effects on people, etc.)

**__Quotations and Analysis__**
"The house was built around 1700 and is the prize building in this northern region of Ceylon. -- Here, in this spacious centre of the labyrinth of 18th-century Dutch defense I sit on one of the giant sofas, in the noisy solitude of the afternoon while the rest of the house is asleep." (Ondaatje 17) The footprint of past Empire is left behind in the architecture of the country. It is interesting that the building is a fort - a defense. Its existence documents past struggles within the country.

"The Wall Street crash had a terrible effect on us. Many of the horses had to be taken over by the military." (Ondaatje 48) They were affected by the economy of the British Empire and had to deal with the repercussions of the depression in the 1930's. "The maps reveal rumours of topography, the routes for invasion and trade, and the dark mad mind of travellers' tales appears throughout Arab and Chinese and medieval records. The island seduced all of Europe. The Portuguese. The Dutch. The English. And so its name changed, as well as its shape - Serendip, Retnapida ("island of gems"), Taprobane, Zeloan, Zeilan, Seyllan, Ceilon, and Ceylon - the wife of many marriages, courted by invaders who stepped ashore and claimed everything with the power of their sword or bible or language." (Ondaatje 64) ---This quote reveals how Ceylon and other countries have all been invaded by larger countries such as Europe. It demonstrates the impact that the invasions had, and how much changes when imperialism occurs. Invasion changed the countries names several times, and the constant land claims changed the shape of the countries because different parts were being added and taken away to the map. The maps also show the routes that invading countries took in order to "claim" land.

"After all, Taormina, Ceylon, Africa, America - as far as //we// go, they are only the negation of what we ourselves stand for and are: and we're rather like Jonahs running away from the place we belong." (Ondaatje 78) ---Despite being invaded by other countries, Ceylon tries to remain true to itself and not let the imperialists affect what they stand for, but sometimes it's hard to avoid the influence. They're "running away from the place [they] belong" because they're being influenced and changing into the invading country's ways, so they are slowly starting to detach from their traditions, despite trying hard not to.

"Ceylon always did have too many foreigners... the “Karapothas” as my niece calls them - the beetles with white spots who never grew ancient here, who stepped in and admired the landscape, disliked the "inquisitive natives" and left. They came originally and overpowered the land obsessive for something as delicate as the smell of cinnamon." (Ondaatje 81) ---Ceylon was always invaded by those who did not belong; whether it was Britain invading their land as imperialists, or foreigners coming to visit and leaving after deciding it was not up to their standards. The land should not be taken for granted, the Ceylon people understand that, but foreigners do not. They corrupt the land.

"But there was another problem to contend with. One whole carriage was given over to high-ranking British officers....The English thought Ceylon trains were bad enough, and if they discovered that officers in the Ceylon Light infantry were going berserk and upsetting schedules they might just leave the country in disgust." (Ondaatje 154) ---This quote explores how involved the British invasion was on Ceylon, and how the imperialists were taking the property that belonged to Ceylon (the carriage). The invasion completely disturbs life as the Ceylon people were used to, and the British are getting involved with the infantry.

I grew up with traditions from my country, but later, more often, from // your // country. Your fragile white island that with customs and manners and books and prefects and reason somehow converted the rest of the world. You stood for precise behaviour. I knew if I lifted a teacup with the wrong finger I’d be banished, if I tied the wrong kind of knot in a tie I was out. Was it just ships that gave you such power? Was it, as my brother said, because you had the histories and printing presses? . . . My brother told me. Never turn your back on Europe. The deal makers. The contract makers. The map drawers. Never trust Europeans, he said. Never shake hands with them. . . . What have I been doing these last few years? Cutting away, defusing, limbs of evil. For what? For // this // to happen? (283-5).

__ Running in the Family __, then, gives us only a partial glimpse, limited glimpse of Ondaatje’s life-long engagement with the relationship between postcolonialism, identity and empire. Reading his autobiography within the larger context of his output as a fiction writer, we can more clearly observe his evolution as a writer and his vexed relationship to postcolonialism, and the myriad identities it produces.

In "Thanikama", Mervyn is driving to Colombo after meeting with Doris. He can't remember where his children are. But when he sobers up, he can remember everyone. Doris never finds him and he spends the day milling about, talking to people and drinking. The year is 1947. Afterwards he drove around and eventually left Colombo. Eventually he reached Kegalle and drove to Rock Hill. He stared at the house, seeing it empty. He could not see the moon. He was alone with the bottle.