Running in the Family

Running in the Family

by

Michael Ondaatje

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Running in the Family: Harbour Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Ondaatje reflects on his love for the harbor and the way the waters from a million different seas intermingle there. He takes a boat out into the dark harbor and weaves around the flotsam while a memory involving a harbor tugs at his brain. He finds the harbor to be “sincere.”
Ondaatje’s weaving through the harbor and its various seas reflects the way he weaves through stories and memories of the past, exploring the various characters and eras of his family’s history.
Themes
Memory, History, and Story Theme Icon
Ancestry, Homeland, and Identity Theme Icon