Essay Questions

What does the novel’s title allude to? What is its significance?

The novel’s title doesn’t have a specific interpretation per se but it is possible that it may be an allusion to a number of ideas within the novel. The “ghost” in the title may refer to the innumerable victims of violence of the Sri Lankan civil war, including Sailor, that Anil and Sarath endeavor to give justice to. It may also be referring to Anil’s internal conflict of reconnecting to a past and a part of her personal identity that was never really a part of her, having migrated to the US. Sarath, especially after his sacrifice to smuggle Sailor’s skeleton and Anil out of Sri Lanka, most likely would be killed for implicating the government in the murder; as such he may also be regarded as “Anil’s Ghost.” In a very literal sense Sarath is now an actual ghost as the sacrifice he made will all but ensure his demise. Anil, being one of the few aware of Sarath’s noble act as a Sri Lankan public official—will treasure that memory of Sarath for as long as she lives.

Does the novel count as a form of antiwar literature?

The novel, beyond being an engaging crime-mystery story, does clearly function as a form of anti-war literature. In fact, the most overt theme in the novel is war; unsurprising given that events in the novel are set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war. Despite that however there is absolutely no glorification of war. Instead it shows the effects of war by showcasing the lives of the characters in the novel—all of whom have been negatively affected by the civil war—and how the characters interact even with long-dead victims of the war. There is also a very clear sense of outrage with how violence has become so interwoven into the daily framework of life in Sri Lanka that it has become the new “normal”, that is, that people no longer bat and eyelash at atrocities and dehumanization.

What is the significance of the last scene where Anand returns to sculpting buddha effigies?

Prior to all the chaos that the civil war brings Anand is a painter and sculptor of renown. All this changes with the disappearance and presumed death of his wife. His involvement however with the Sailor case seems to have given him a new lease on life and the novel ends with him once more sculpting the eyes of a buddha statue. The act of sculpting eyes is an allusion to his past when he participated in the ceremonial “finishing” of religious statues by painting eyes on them. This act is symbolic of Anand’s renewed hope that perhaps the injustices and abuses that the Sri Lankan people have endured for so long may yet come to an end through the sacrifice of Sarath and Anil’s efforts.