Identity In Anil's Identity By Sarath Diyasena

Another main character that played a huge role to magnify Anil’s identity is her Sri Lankan partner Sarath Diyasena. The communication and work relation between Sarath and Anil really exposes the difference in mentality and culture between east and west. Very early on since the two first met, Anil already had qualms about Sarath, “She had been working with him for several days and she still had no handle on him. He was high up in the state-sponsored Archaeological Department, so how much a part of the government was he?” (Ondaatje 24) As a representation of western thinking, Anil’s doubts in Sarath stems from her lack of truths and evidence to show her that a representative from such a questionable state is here to assist her in good will. …show more content…
Sarath makes a very clear distinction between Anil and himself by telling her that she will never understand and be part of “our world”. Throughout the story, Anil and Sarath continue discussing and showing the readers their differences in what truth really meant to them. However, near the end of the novel, the reader really feels how Sarath’s eastern influence has a profound impact on Anil, “ “I think you murdered hundreds of us.” Hundreds of us. Sarath thought to himself. Fifteen years away and she is finally us.” (Ondaatje 269) It seemed that after all the different experiences and encounters they had with so many places and life story of people, Anil started to build much more of an emotional connection with Sri Lanka. Sarath and Anil both changed each other; Sarath also developed a sense of trust in Anil that she was the right person to present her findings in Sri Lanka to the international