Yes, definitely yes.
In this novel, Clara has a tragic flaw of being materialistic. Her flaw affects other characters negatively, which becomes an issue throughout the book, and eventually, leads herself into her own destruction. When Clara leaves Patrick for Ambrose, we can see that she fancies money more than love. Her relationship with Patrick didn’t mean anything to her; it was only physical. This tragic flaw keeps her away from experiencing what is true; it makes her blunt and shallow. She follows a sad, never-satisfying life, which will soon lead her into ruins.
After Clara chooses Ambrose for his money, she slowly realizes that her life didn’t turn out the way she wanted it to be. Ambrose didn’t satisfy her with his money; she “pulls back”. Her materialistic character caused her to choose Ambrose, a rich man, over Patrick, who loved and cared for her so dearly. And later, she loses Ambrose and ends up with nothing.
One question I ask is, did Clara kill Ambrose or did he die of natural cause? Ondaatje lets us ponder that answer. Did her materialistic flaw cause Clara to not want Ambrose and her decision to murder him? Or is it because of this flaw that Ondaatje chooses to make Clara end up alone with nothing? We find out about Ambrose’s death after Clara calls Patrick, out of the bloom, to pick her up. Her life ends up being desperate for company.
Clara’s decision to leave Patrick dramatically affected Patrick’s life, leaving him in a miserable state, which then affects the whole story of the novel. Alice saves Patrick. Patrick saves Alice. They date and fall in love. Alice dies. Patrick goes to jail. Meets thief. Waterworks. Patrick lives with Hana. Clara’s one tragic flaw causes all those events to happen, making it an issue in the novel, In The Skin of a Lion. It is ironic and interesting to see that Patrick, who had nothing, ends up with hope and a purpose in life while Clara, who thought she would have everything, result with nothing.
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The way you emphasized Clara's materialistic tragic flaw makes sense when revealing each tragedy that Patrick encounters. Clara, who is such a vital aspect of Patrick's life, seems to have no sense of direction at all; which is what readers might find themselves pitying. She does "follow a sad, never-satisfying life" as you've mentioned. Ondaatje portrays Clara (and perhaps Alice) to be characters who search for power and race over love and comfort. Moreover, I loved how you questioned how Ambrose dies; whether it was of natural cause or because of her materialistic character that caused her decision to murder him. I think the way you've expanded on this idea makes perfectly sense of Ambrose' death. After all, she does end up calling for Patrick; why else would she if she'd left him right? I don't know many people who'd be calling back for their past 'lover' if they've already left them; it'd be like another tragedy.
I agree with Joyce, that your question about the nature of Ambrose's death is a good one. In fact, if Clara is responsible for Ambrose's death, what does that really reveal about her character? Is materialism really her tragic flaw, or is it masking something else? Is she as desperate to find her identity as Patrick is? Do they both find freedom through the death of another?
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