“Tabula_Asiae”_by_Michael_Ondaatje

“Tabula Asiae” by Michael Ondaatje is an essay concerning the influence of colonization on Sri Lanka. The author describes the changes Sri Lanka has seen during the periods through which it was ruled by different European states which eventually left traces of their cultures and languages. 1) The essay is written in two forms, namely descriptive and reflective. It is descriptive because it creates imagery in the reader’s mind while evoking emotions. Secondly, this is a reflective essay because Michael Ondaatje utilizes his historical knowledge about Sri Lanka and examines it. Ondaatje’s intended audience contains mostly people that are not from Sri Lanka. 2) The purpose of this paper is to inform emigrants who have left Sri Lanka for a long time and are disconnected from their colourful history. He achieves this by explaining the illustrations seen on maps from different times in Sri Lankan history. The second purpose of this paper is to enforce the hardships faced by the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka and also the integration of foreigners who came to Sri Lanka for sole purpose of ruling it but later on came to settle there permanently. 3) The essay is organized in four paragraphs. The first paragraph describes all maps hanging on the wall, while the second paragraph describes the hardships faced by the Sinhalese during the British rule in which they worked like slaves. The third paragraph illustrates the changes in Sri Lanka’s name as it was invaded by various European countries. In the last paragraph the author describes the integration of foreigners with Sri Lankan people. Michael Ondaatje uses a wide variety of transitional phrases such as “In order to” (line 25) and “Consequently” (Line 35). Transitions aid in continuing the flow of ideas from one paragraph or sentence to the other. It also help the reader to recognize the connection between ideas and helps in following the progress of the argument. Moreover, lots of personal opinions and facts are used to describe the hardships. For example, the author states “A white queen awards natives for carrying tusks and conches” (Line 15) 4) This 5) It is a cause and effect essay. Naheed Mustafa is wearing a Hijab because she thinks that her body is her own private concern and it is a requirement of her Muslim faith. Consequently, people think of her as a terrorist and people talk with her in loud and slow English, which boxes her as an immigrant. The author also compares the ways in which different individuals view the Hijab. Naheed states the some believe that it symbolizes “Silence or radical unconscionable militancy” (Paragraph 11). However, she believes that the Hijab symbolizes freedom. Moreover, Naheed compares and contrasts the ways in which she grew up. For example, she had no money to use lotions and other cosmetic products to become “the next Cindy Crawford.” 6) The writer uses a variety of Rhetorical devices in the essay. Firstly, she employs rhetorical questions such as Why should I wear a Hijab (Ling 10). These types of questions make the readers feel involved in the writing and gets them to think. Secondly, she exaggerates her opinion on the symbolism of the Hijab by practically writing a biased paper in which she considers no other factors that force people to give up their traditional values other than stereotypes and discrimination. Lastly the repetition of the phrase “Hijab symbolizes freedom” she forces one to assimilate into her point of view. However, every time she repeats the phrase she uses a different piece of evidence to backup her thesis. 6) The author has used a variety of figurative language. Firstly, similes have been used in different contexts. For example, in paragraph 1 she says, “I often wonder whether people see me as a radical, fundamentalist Muslim terrorist packing an AK-47 assault rifle inside my jean jacket. In this, she is comparing and boxing terrorists as having guns and coming from Islam. She also shows us how people compare all Muslims with terrorism. Secondly, analogy was used when Naheed used the Koran as a form of instruction. She says, “The Koran teaches us that men and women are equal, that individuals should not be judged according to gender, beauty, wealth or privilege.” (Paragraph 5) She used the Koran’s Analogy to say men and women are both equal and one should be judged based on their skills not their race, clothes or beliefs. Lastly, she used the metaphor, “Women are taught from early childhood that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness”, in Paragraph _____. Through this metaphor, she challenges the traditional system in which children are taught from early age that one should judge a person from their looks and not their skills. In other words, they are taught that appearance is considered superior to skills and ones character. 7) The author has used a simple and vivid language in the essay. The essay is written in first person. The used of rhetorical device and figurative language enhances the glory of the essay. 8) As a whole, this essay is constructed in a well-organized manner and convinces one to believe what the writer believes. The excellent use of transition phrases, figurative language and exaggerating the right ideas lead to an essay that is simply a masterpiece. The use of personal incidents also emphasizes the effects of stereotypes on individuals, as some fall into the trap to transform themselves whilst others view the discrimination and stereotypes as things of little concern and grow up to be what they are purely on their skills.