Mr. Costa
English/Period 1
4 December, 2013
Name thisss I think the character of Kirpal Singh experiences a very important transformation in regard to what Michael Ondaatje planned on portraying in his novel. Initially, when he is introduced, it is key to note immediately his formal name was forgotten and ignored by those surrounding him in the villa only to be replaced by his nickname, Kip, as this shows the effect they had on reshaping his identity (87). We find out Kip is initially from India, and because he was the second son, he was going to be a doctor (182). However, when the war forced him to abandon that career and join the army, he was “shipped” to England and found himself working for a bomb disposal group lead by Lord Suffolk. Incidentally, although he was the only Indian applicant and still managed to get the position, Kip was constantly alienated from those surrounding him and was used to going unnoticed. It is not until Lord Suffolk dies and the responsibility shifts to Kip as the new leader when we see the other sappers finally acknowledge and show respect to him (196). Thus, in a way, the war was what allowed for Kip’s rise to success and authority, and ironically with that status he chose to risk his life for England, the country that formerly oppressed his native region. With that being said, later on in the novel, we see that Kip begins to develop a very close relationship with Hana, slowly progressing from that one scene where
