Sixth Reflection on THE ENGLISH PATIENT

The War

The Villa

After glancing through the last few pages of the novel, it is now the right time to come back to our original inquiry: are people completely altruistic? In one of my previous reflections, I have firmly acknowledged Hana as one of the most altruistic person in the world. However, is she completely altruistic? I am afraid that I have to oppose and revise my previous opinion. Although it seems that the patient ties Hana to an unsafe place, she sees him as freeing her from the awful horrors of war. Moreover, the English patient makes her feel that she can once again become emotionally attached to someone, and that she can finally let down her guard. They rely on each other and the level of trust between them continues to reinforce each minute. Thus, Hana’s aid for the English patient is only partially altruistic because by living in the isolated villa, she is able to fulfill her desire to escape the reality and the brutality of war, and once again bring herself to humanity.