The passage of Alice and Clara at the farmhouse, having physical intimicy, seemed to be one of the most powerfully written scenes in this novel. I found this passage so beautifully written that I was moved by the message it revealed. Although to a first time reader this scene may not be as attractive, if one can put on the feminisim lens and ponder about the true meaning of the two womans' intimicy, one would agree on the power and beauty of this passage.
The setting of this passage helps explore and adds more beauty to message Ondaatje tries to reveal to us readers. The farmhouse, an isolated place surrounded by nature. The night sky, two woman surrounded by stars, talking endlessly under the everlasting sky. The "moon flowers" and grass, the splenders of nature. The thunder, the power of women; it significantly emphasizes the strength of the power Alice and Clara creates.The rain, cleansing. These are some of the key factors that I thought added emphasis to the mood.
The two womans' imtimicy is not represented sexually, but beyond that. It is an act of two woman who share common morals and beliefs joining together as one. This union significantly reveals the power the women hold and grasp on to. Ondaatje is trying to show us that even though the inequality between men and women still exist, women hold power that men cannot reach. His message makes this powerful passage so beautiful, espacially in a female perspective.
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I had a chance to analyze the sex scene between Alice and Clara and you are definitely right. The scene implies two women's common beliefs, morals and further their dissatisfaction. I also thought "moon flower" was very important in this scene. However, I viewed the scene as a search for identity for both women. Although I am not completely convinced, it was interesting to see your veiwpoint about how femal perspective fits into this scene.
Emily, I really like your perspective on this scene and your comment about women possessing knowledge that men can't access. When Ondaatje references witches in this scene, I think that is what he is suggesting. And not in a negative or evil way, but I think he wants us to consider that there is more to knowledge than the logical and tangible methods that seem to be quite masculine (and, as a consequence, prevalent in how we assess the nature of knowledge itself). It is clear that Clara and Alice have access to a depth of knowledge and emotion that is foreign to Patrick and that he cannot approach. From a feminist perspective, this is a rich, rich scene. Is Ondaatje suggesting that the power structures and knowledge structures of our world are flawed and incomplete? Is he suggesting we need both male and female knowledge and nature to create a holistic approach to being and knowing? There is so much layered into this passage, and you have raised some important questions.
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