Ondaatje is trying to convey the message that without knowing English the character would be lost, unable to gain any kind of status. The character will therefore have to learn English and through this take on a new identity. The book also represents the struggle of immigrants to maintain their identity. This quote is relatable to myself: When I immigrated to Canada from India with my family, we struggled a bit because it was difficult to get around and we knew almost no one at the time. It was easy for me to adapt to English since I attended an English speaking school. This helped me gain a new identity