As an adult, Nathaniel recognizes that his parents' disappearance when he was a child significantly shaped who he is. Warlight Summary. The novel’s portrayal of the transition to adulthood is relatively dark, and even cynical, for Nathaniel’s personal journey from adolescence to adulthood is heavily shaped by newfound acquaintanceship with cold independence and moral relativism. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes… What is embroidered in the frame on the wall that Nathaniel reads after leaving the bathroom at... As Nathaniel leaves the bathroom at The Darter's apartment, he encounters a framed piece of embroidery that reads, On the other hand, this unconventional, potentially dysfunctional form of personal development was counterpointed by the warmer, more positive influences of Agnes and Olive. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Warlight” by Michael Ondaatje. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Ondaatje, Michael. The most salient and emotional part of the novel for me is how Nathan spends years obsessively searching for signs of his parents in documents while working in the Foreign Office. Nathan's childhood perspective in Warlight transitions into a coming-of-age theme, in which he looks back on how his childhood was shaped by parental abandonment. One primary theme of Warlight is the fragile nature of memory. Related to his tendency to isolate himself from the world, Nathan comes to understand how his youth influenced his issues with intimacy in adulthood. 6 pages at 400 words per page) View a FREE sample. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Warlight. Print Word PDF. Nathan comes to understand that the Moth had been his guardian, always watching over him. © 2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I used often to lie awakethrough the whole night,and wish for a large pearl. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Warlight. Nathan recognizes the love that both Agnes and Olive provided him: as a lover and as a friend, respectively. eNotes critical analyses help you gain a deeper understanding of Warlight so you can excel on your essay or test. Nathan reflects on how the absence of his parents made him stoic and independent to the point of isolation. This coming-of-age theme and lack of parental guidance is associated with his illegal work with the Moth and the Darter as he assists them in their greyhound smuggling operation. Coming of Age. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Michael Ondaatje's narratives usually contain the theme of childhood memory; other examples include the fictional perspective present in The Cat's Table and Michael Ondaatje's own childhood memories in Running in the Family.


This section contains 2,328 words (approx. Closely tied to Nathan's story of development are the themes of love, intimacy, and emotional dysfunction. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been. His personal education was derived largely from his illegal work with The Darter in an atmosphere devoid of traditional parental love and attention. As a teenager, without the supervision of his parents, Nathaniel developed a rather stoic adherence to his independence, finding himself in “a borderless terrain between adolescence and adulthood” (65). By... What dos Nathaniel realize about his identity at the end of the book? This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Warlight. Michael Ondaatje. It seems to be that the boy Rose cared for when she was a child, Marsh Felon (at least that's what she calls him), became a... eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Warlight Themes & Motifs. Discussion of themes and motifs in Michael Ondaatje's Warlight. Warlight. Nathaniel spends much of his time reconstructing his childhood and youth, but he must acknowledge that his recollections are unreliable; he describes the pieces he is gathering as “unconfirmed fragments.” As Nathaniel tries to move past the childhood trauma of war and abandonment after their parents left him and his sister, Rachel,... Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this Warlight study guide and get instant access to the following: You'll also get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and 300,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.