On The Existential Themes Of The English Patient From The Perspective Of Postmodern Techniques

Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient is an extraordinary masterpiece. Since its publication in 1992, it has been awarded many prizes including the Governor General's Award, the Trillium Award, and the internationally respected Booker Prize. These awards gain its author's worldwide attention.The present study focused on the existential themes and how they are highlighted with the postmodern techniques. Based on the theory of existentialism, the thesis found the rich postmodern techniques, such as the postmodern narratology, parody and open ending deepened and enlivened such themes as absurdity, nihility and uncertainty of the world and people.The world under Ondaatje's pen is a chaotic and irrational world. The characters he portraits discard traditional values and faith and live a nihilistic and miserable life. These views are in accordance with the existentialist philosophy which is rising in the twentieth century. Existentialism mainly explores human existence, the absurdity of the world and the meaninglessness and purposelessness of life.Fragmentized narration suggested the absurdity of the world, coupled with the shift of narrative focuses. The nihility of life was vividly represented. The application of parody enhanced Uncertainty of the victims'destiny, furthermore, open ending strengthened and reinforced the uncertainty.This dissertation, based on the theory of existentialism, studied the existentialism themes finding expression in The English Patient, borrowed experiences from theme study. In addition to the traditional research method, this thesis applied some method of postmodernism techniques, such as the narratology theory, parody, open ending, so as to dig out the existential themes finding expression in The English Patient, and studied how the postmodernism techniques enhanced the themes. The present study was hoped to promote academic research on Michael Ondaatje and The English Patient.