英文影评资料之英国病人the english patient

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英文影评资料之英国病人TheEnglishPatient[编辑本段]剧情介绍　　二战期间，一架英国飞机在飞越撒哈拉沙漠时被德军击落，飞机上的机师全身严重烧伤，当地的人将他救活后送往了盟军战地医院。由于受伤，这个机师丧失了记忆，不能想起自己是谁，因此只被叫做“英国病人”。　　法国和加拿大血统的汉娜是战地医院的一名护士，战争使她失去了男友麦根，在伤员转移途中由于误入雷区，又失去了最好的朋友珍，于是善良的汉娜决定独自留下来照顾这个“英国病人”。　　这是意大利托斯卡纳的一个废弃的修道院，远离战争的喧嚣，显得宁静而闲逸，“英国病人“静静的躺在房间的木床上，窗头的一本旧书渐渐唤起了他的思绪...　　匈牙利籍的历史学者拉兹罗·德·艾马殊伯爵跟随探险家马铎深入撒哈拉沙漠进行考察，在那里，他结识了“皇家地理学会”推荐来帮助绘制地图的“飞机师”杰佛和他美丽的妻子凯瑟琳·嘉芙莲。嘉芙莲的风韵和才情深深地吸引了艾马殊，并对她产生了无法抗拒的爱慕之情。杰佛由于回开罗筹集资金，留下嘉芙莲和考察队一同进行考察，在这段时间里，他们共同发现了沙漠深处的绘有原始绘画的洞穴，同时，嘉芙莲对机警、智慧、幽默的艾马殊也产生了好感。　　终于，嘉芙莲倒入了艾马殊的怀抱，不尽的温存使艾马殊深陷情网而不能自拔。然而，身为有夫之妇的嘉芙莲深知这是一场没有结局的爱情，尽管她深爱艾马殊，但她无法逾越道德的屏障，最终，她决定与艾马殊分手，这深深地伤害了艾马殊。　　英国对德宣战，马铎也要回国了，留下艾马殊在沙漠继续他在原始人山洞的考察。已经察觉的杰佛一直保持着着绝对的沉默，当他驾驶飞机来接艾马殊时，伤心的杰佛欲驾机撞向艾马殊……杰佛当场死去，同机的嘉芙莲也受了重伤，艾马殊抱起嘉芙莲将她送往山洞，嘉芙莲此时向艾马殊道出了自己一直都在深爱着他。　　艾马殊要挽救嘉芙莲，必须步行走出沙漠求救。他将嘉芙莲安置在山洞里，对他许诺一定会回来救她。然而，当走出沙漠的艾马殊焦急地向盟军驻地的士兵求救时，却因为他的态度和名字被当作德国人抓了起来，并送上了押往欧洲的战俘车。　　时间在一点点地流逝，心挂嘉芙莲的艾马殊焦急万分。他终于找机会逃了出来，此时，对他来 说，没有比救嘉芙莲更重要的事了，情急之中，他用马铎绘制的非洲地图换取了德国人的帮助，用德国人给的汽油驾驶着马铎离开时留下的英国飞机返回山洞。他没有违背诺言，可是，时间已过去太多，嘉芙莲已在寒冷中永远地离开了他...　　在照顾“英国病人”的日子里，汉娜结识了印度籍的拆弹手基普，并产生了爱情，在战争的阴影下，他们的爱情显得谨慎而克制。就在此时，战争结束了，然而，死亡并没有结束，身为拆弹手的基普，注定还要无数次地面对死亡。汉娜理智地和奔赴雷场的基普分手了。　　由于艾马殊将地图交给了德军，使德军长驱直入开罗城，直捣盟军总部。马铎得知后深感愧对祖国，饮弹自杀。为盟军效力的间谍“会友”被切去了手指，使他对艾马殊充满憎恨，他通过打听找到这座修道院，想复仇杀死艾马殊，可当他听了艾马殊的故事后，却又无从下手。　　艾马殊决定了结自己的生命，将全部的吗啡推到汉娜面前，请她帮助自己死去以追寻早已逝去的爱人。汉娜深深地理解他，协助他离开了这个世界，追随他的爱人去了。　　汉娜也要离开修道院了，她怀抱着艾马殊留下的那本旧书，回望绿荫影中的修道院，心中无比的平静。[编辑本段]精彩对白　　Betrayalsinwararechildlikecomparedwithourbetrayalsduringpeace.Newloversarenervousandtender,butsmasheverything-fortheheartisanorganoffire.　　战火硝烟中的背叛与我们在太平盛世中的背叛相较而言，就天真单纯得多了！初恋的人们心存紧张并满怀柔情，但却可以抵御一切——只因为心如烈火。　　--------------------------------------------------------------------------------　　Mydarling,I'mwaitingforyou.亲爱的，我在等你　　Howlongisadayinthedark?不见天日的一天会有多长？　　Oraweek?一周呢？　　Thefireisgonenow火熄灭了，　　andI'mhorriblycold.我觉得寒风刺骨　　Ireallyoughttodragmyselfoutside,我真想拖着病体到外面去　　butthenthere'dbethesun.外面阳光普照　　I'mafraidIwastethelight我很抱歉我将电筒里的电都浪费在了　　onthepaintingsandonwritingthseswords.看这些画还有给你写信上　　Wedie.我们都会死　　Wedierichwithloversandtribes, 我们与爱人、家族一同魂归天国　　　tasteswehaveswallowed,我们嘴里都有对方的味道　　bodyswehaveentered...我们曾经灵欲合一　　andswumuplikerivers.在爱河里畅游　　Fearswe'vehiddenin,内心的恐惧　　likethiswrechedcave.像这幽暗的山洞　　Iwantallthismarkedonmybody.我要把这些永远铭刻在身体上　　Wearetherealcountries.我们的国家是实在的　　Nottheboundariesdrawnonmaps,不是画在地图上的边界　　thenamesofpowerfulmen.被用强人的姓名命名　　Iknowyou'llcomeandcarrymeoutintothepalaceofwinds.我知道你会回来把我抱起　　迎风屹立　　That'sallI'vewanted,我已别无所求　　towalkinsuchaplacewithyou,只想跟着你漫步天国　　withfriends.与朋友们一同　　anearthwithoutmaps.去一个没有地图的乐土　　Thelamp'sgoneout,油尽灯枯了　　andI'mwriting...　　inthedarkness.我在黑暗中，默默写着....CountLaszlodeAlmásyHanaDavidCaravaggioKatharineCliftonKipGeoffreyClifton MadoxMajorMullerSgt.HardyFenelon-BarnesD'AgostinoFouadBermannOliverMaryAlmásy:Whatdoyoulove?KatharineClifton:WhatdoIlove?Almásy:Sayeverything.KatharineClifton:Hm,let'ssee...Water.Fishinit.Andhedgehogs;Ilovehedgehogs.Almásy:Andwhatelse?KatharineClifton:Marmite-I'maddicted.Andbaths.Butnotwithotherpeople.Islands.Yourhandwriting.Icouldgoonallday.Almásy:Goonallday.KatharineClifton:Myhusband.Almásy:Whatdoyouhatemost?KatharineClifton:Alie.Whatdoyouhatemost?Beginninginthe1930's,"TheEnglishPatient"tellsthestoryofCountAlmásywhoisaHungarianmapmakeremployedbytheRoyalGeographicalSocietytochartthevastexpansesoftheSaharaDesertalongwithseveralotherprominentexplorers.AsWorldWarIIunfolds,Almásyentersintoaworldoflove,betrayal,andpoliticsthatislaterrevealedinaseriesofflashbackswhileAlmásyisonhisdeathbedafterbeinghorribly burnedinaplanecrash.WrittenbyAnthonyHughesAburnvictim,anurse,athief,andasapperfindthemselvesineachotherscompanyinanoldItalianvillaclosetotheendofWorldWarII.Throughflashbacks,weseethelifeoftheburnvictim,whosepassionateloveofawomanandchoiceshemadeforherultimatelychangethelivesofoneotherpersoninthevilla.NotonlyisthisfilmasearchfortheidentityoftheEnglishpatient,butasearchfortheidentitiesofallthepeopleinthequietoldvilla.WrittenbySarahGreenbergInacrumblingvillainWWIIItaly,duringthefinaldaysoftheEuropeancampaign,ayoung,shell-shockedwarnurse(Hana)remainsbehindtotendherdoomedpatient-ahorriblyburnedpilot.Throughthegradualunravelingofhislifeandtheappearanceofanoldfamilyfriend(Caravaggio)andayoungSikhsapper(Kip),thequestionofidentityisexplored.WrittenbyGustafMolinThemovingstoryofaHungarianmapmakerandhisdyingmemoriesoftheromancethattragicallyaltershislife.BurnedhorriblyinafieryplanecrashwhilecrossingtheSaharaDesertduringWWII,heistendedtobyaCanadiannursewithghostsofherownandhauntedbyathiefseekinganswersforacrimefromhispast.WrittenbyKermAnalysisofMajorCharactersAlmásyTheprotagonistandthe"Englishpatient"ofthenovel'stitle,Almásyexistsasthecenterandfocusoftheaction,despitethefactthatheiswithoutnameoridentityformuchofthe novel.Almásythusservesastheblanksheetuponwhomalltheothercharactersfocustheirdesiresandexpectations.Littlebylittle,herevealshisidentity,andfinallyhisname,inChapterIX.WhenAlmásy'snameisrevealedwediscoverthegreatironyofthenovel:the"Englishpatient"isnotevenEnglish,butratherHungarianbybirth,an"internationalbastard"whohasspentmuchofhisadultlifewanderingthedesert.Inthisway,theEnglishpatientservestohighlightthegreatdifferencebetweenimaginationandreality,andtheabstractionofconceptssuchasnationalityandcitizenship.Onthewhole,Almásyisnotatallwhattheothercharactersthinkheappearstobe.Almásy'smannerisknowledgeableandreflective.Hisentirecareerhasconsistedofsearchingforancientcitiesandmappingemptyland.Hethuslinksthepasttothepresent,writinginthemarginsofHerodotuswhatheseestobethetruthsofthelandscape.Almásy'sclear-mindedandotherwiserationalthinking,however,iscloudedbytheentranceofKatharineCliftonintohislife.Hebecomesobsessedwithimagesofherbody,whichtheninspirethewritingofhisbook.Heisunabletofocusonhiswork,frustratedthatheisatalosstonamethespotatthebaseofherneck.AlmásyisoverwhelmedbypassionforKatherine,walkingwithoutdirectionthroughthedesertlikeamadmanafterherdeath,searchingforherbodysohemayreturnhertoEnglandashepromised.ThoughAlmásyisnotahighlydynamiccharacter—bytheyearinwhichthestoryisset,alltheeventsofhislifehavepassed—heisarguablythemostintriguingandmysteriousfigure.Heisportrayedinasympatheticlight,butwemustkeep inmindthatthismaybebecausewehearhisstoryfromhisownpointofvies.Fromanobjectiveperspective,manyofhisactions,lies,andbetrayalsappearreprehensible.Nonetheless,Almásyescapestotalcondemnationbecauseofhisknowledge,charm,andadherencetohisownsystemofvalues.ToAlmásy—whoplacesnovalueintheconceptofnationsandstates—itisnotatallunethicaltohelpaGermanspythroughthedesert.Indeed,Almásyconcludesthatnationalidentityiscompletelyirrelevantinthedesert.Ultimately,however,hesuffersgreatlyforhisbeliefsandforhismomentsofpassion.Almásy'senduringspiritandhisfirmconnectionbetweenpastandpresentarewhatkeephim,theEnglishpatient,foremostinourminds.HanaOnlytwentyyearsold,Hanaistornbetweenadolescenceandadulthood.Barelyeighteenwhensheleavestobecomeanurseinthewar,sheisforcedtogrowupquickly,eliminatingtheluxuriesofhercharacterthatgetinthewayofherduty.Threedaysintoherwork,shecutsoffallherhair,asitgetsinthewayofherwork,andrefusestolookinamirrorforthedurationofthewar.Withtheconfidencethatcomeswithexperience,HanacaresfortheEnglishpatient,bringinghimmorphineandwashinghiswounds.Yetshestillclingstovestigesofinnocencethatallowhertofeellikeachild—somenights,shegoesoutinthegardentoplayhopscotch.Hanaisadynamiccharacter,andthenovelisinmanywaysthestoryofhermaturityintoadulthood.HanagoesaboutherdutywithaChristianbeliefthathasbeensomewhatcompromisedbythewar.Whilesherefrainsfrom prayingandoutrightreligiousceremony,theallusionsshemakesareclearlyreligious.HanaseesherEnglishpatientasa"despairingsaint"with"hipboneslikeChrist."Thisreligiousimageryelevatesthetoneofherthoughtsandheimportanceofheractions.Sheimaginesthepatienttohavebeenanoblewarriorwhohassuffered—perhapswrongly—forhisactions.Inreality,however,AlmásyisamapmakerwhohashelpedGermanspiesandcarriedonanaffairwithanotherman'swife.ByprojectingnobleimagesontotheblankidentityoftheEnglishpatient,Hanabuildsinnocentandchildlikedreams.Asthenovelconcludes,Hanaseestherealityinhersituation,andshelongstoreturnhometothesafetyofClaraandherhome.KipAsasoldierwhohashadadifficultlifebothatwarandathome,Kipisaconflictedandcomplicatedcharacter.OndaatjetakesfreelicensewithKip,employinghimasalensthroughwhichtoexploreAnglo-IndianrelationsduringaperiodofchaosfortheBritishEmpire.Kip'sexperiencesinIndiawithhisbrother—whoharborsdeepresentmenttowardtheWest—andwithfellowsoldiersinEnglandwhoreactwithreservetohisbrownskinhighlightthestrainedandskepticalrelationsbetweentwopartsofonelargeEmpire.AsanIndianmanservingintheBritisharmy,Kipstraddlestwoworlds,walkingafinelinebetweenadoptingWesterncustomsandlosinghisnationalidentity.Yetasacharacterinhimself,Kipiscomplexandelusive.Hereactswithwarmthtothewelcomingembraceofhismentor,LordSuffolk,butshrugsoffCaravaggio'shugasheridesawayonhismotorcycleattheendofthenovel.Muchoftheemotional distanceKiphasbuiltforhimselfisaresultofhisincrediblydangerousjobinthewar.Asamanwhomustdescendintodeeppitstodefusebombsthatcouldexplodeatanytime,Kiphascometogripswiththeideaofhisownmortality.Hisjobhastaughthimtodistrusteverythingandeveryone.IntheItalianvilla,however,Kipbecomesapartofthesmallcommunitythathassproutedthereandbeginstolethisguarddown.However,thenewsoftheatomicbombdroppedonJapan,whichheseesasasymbolofWesternaggression,joltshimbackintotherealitythatexistsoutsidethevilla.Kipreturnstothepaththatwasinitiallylaidoutforhim,becomingadoctorandhavinganIndianfamily.Tearslater,however,histhoughtsofHanakeephimtiedbetweentwoworlds.Themes,Motifs,andSymbolsThemesNationalityandIdentityNationalityandidentityareinterconnectedinTheEnglishPatient,functioningtogethertocreateawebofinescapablestructuresthattiethecharacterstocertainplacesandtimesdespitetheirbesteffortstoevadesuchconfinement.Almásydesperatelytriestoeludetheforceofnationality,livinginthedesertwherehecreatesforhimselfanalternateidentity,oneinwhichfamilyandnationareirrelevant.Almásyforgesthisidentitythroughhischaracter,hiswork,andhisinteractionswithothers.Importantly,hechoosesthisidentityratherthaninheritingit.Certainenvironmentsinthenovellendcredencetotheideathatnationalidentitycanbeerased.ThedesertandtheisolatedItalianvillafunctionassuchplaceswherenationalidentityisunimportanttoone'sconnectionwithothers.Kip,whobecomesenmeshedintheideaofWesternsocietyandthewelcomingcommunityofthevilla'sinhabitants,evendismisseshishyperawarenessofhisown racialidentityforatime.Ultimately,however,thecharacterscannotescapefromtheoutsiderealitythat,inwartime,nationalidentityisprizedaboveallelse.ThisrealityinvadesAlmásy'slifeinthedesertandKip'slifeintheItalianvilla.Desperateforhelp,Almásyislockedupmerelybecausehisnamesoundsforeign.Hisidentityfollowshimevenafterheisburnedbeyondrecognition,asCaravaggiorealizesthatthe"English"patientisnotevenEnglish.ForKip,newsoftheatomicbombremindshimthat,outsidetheisolatedworldofthevilla,westernaggressionstillexists,crushingAsianpeopleasKip'sbrotherhadwarned.Nationalidentityis,then,aninescapablepartofeachofthecharacters,alargerforceoverwhichtheyhavenocontrol.Love'sAbilitytoTranscendTimeandPlaceOnethemethatemergesinthenovelisthatlove,ifitistrulyheartfelt,transcendsplaceandtime.Hanafeelsloveandconnectiontoherfathereventhoughhehasdiedalone,farfromherinanothertheaterofwar.AlmásydesperatelymaintainshisloveforKatharineeventhoughheisunabletoseeherorreachherinthecave.Likewise,Kip,despiteleavingItalytomarryinIndia,neverloseshisconnectiontoHana,whomheimaginesthirteenyearslaterandhalfwayacrosstheworld.Suchlovetranscendsevendeath,asthecharactersholdontotheiremotionsevenpastthegrave.Thisideaimpliesalargermessage—thattimeandplacethemselvesareirrelevanttohumanconnection.WeseethisespeciallyinAlmásy'sconnectiontoHerodotus,whosewritingshefollowsacrosstimethroughthedesert.Mapsandgeographybecomedetails,mereartificiallinesthatmanimposesonthelandscape.Itisonlythetruth inthesoul,whichtranscendstime,thatmattersinthenovel.SymbolsTheAtomicBombTheatomicbombtheUnitedStatesdropsonJapansymbolizestheworstfearsofwesternaggression.ThecharactersinthenoveltrytoescapethewarandallitshorrorsbyremainingwiththeEnglishpatientinasmallItalianvillainthehills.Stayingclosetothepatient,theycanimmersethemselvesinhisworldofthepastratherthanfacetheproblemsofthepresent.Theatomicbombsripthroughthissilenceofisolation,reawakeningthecharacters,especiallyKip,totherealityoftheoutsideworldpressinginuponthem.Thebombremindsthemofthefoolishnessandpowerofnation-statesandremindsthemoftheviolabilityoftheirenclosedenvironment.TheItalianvillaInChapterII,Hanareflectstoherselfthat"thereseemedlittledemarcationbetweenhouseandlandscape."Suchanorganicdepictionofthevillaissymbolicallyimportanttothenovel.Straddlingthelinebetweenhouseandlandscape,buildingandearth,thevillarepresentsbothdeathandrebirth.Warhasdestroyedthevilla,makinghugeholesinwallsandceilings.Butnaturehasreturnedtofilltheseholes,replacingthevoidwithnewlife.Suchanimagemirrorsthespiritualdeathandrebirthofthevilla'sinhabitants,thewaytheylearntoliveagainaftertheemotionaldestructionofwar.PlotOverviewInTheEnglishPatient,thepastandthepresentarecontinuallyintertwined.Thenarrativestructureinterspersesdescriptionsofpresentactionwiththoughtsandconversationsthatofferglimpsesofpasteventsandoccurrences.Thoughthereisnosinglenarrator,thestoryis alternativelyseenfromthepointofviewofeachofthemaincharacters.ThenovelopenswithHana,ayoungnurse,gardeningoutsideavillainItalyin1945.TheEuropeantheaterofthewarhasjustendedwiththeGermansretreatinguptheItaliancountryside.AstheGermansretreated,theylefthiddenbombsandmineseverywhere,sothelandscapeisparticularlydangerous.Althoughtheothernursesandpatientshaveleftthevillatoescapetoasaferplace,Hanadecidestostayinthevillawithherpatient.Hanadoesnotknowmuchaboutthemanforwhomshecares.Foundinthewreckageofaplanecrash,hebeenburnedbeyondrecognition,hiswholebodyblackandeventheslightesttouchpainfultohim.HetalksabouttheBedouintribewhofoundhiminthewreckage,caredforhiswounds,andeventuallyreturnedhimtoaBritishcampin1944.Hedoesnotknowwhotheywere,buthefeelsgratefultothemnonetheless.Topassthetime,HanareadstotheEnglishpatient—sheassumesheisEnglishbyhismannerandspeech—andalsogardens,fixesupthevilla,andplayshopscotch.Sometimesshepicksupthepatient'snotebook,acopyofHerodotus'sTheHistoriesmarkedthroughoutwithhisownnotes,figures,andobservations,andreadstohimortoherself.Oneday,amanwithbandagedhandsnamedCaravaggioarrivesatthevilla.HeisanoldfamilyfriendofHana'sfather,Patrick,andhadheardaboutherlocationwhilehewasrecoveringinahospitalafewmilesaway.InCanada,whereCaravaggioknewHanayearsago,hewasathief.Hetellsherhowhisskillswere legitimizedinthewarandhowheputthemtouseworkingforBritishIntelligenceinNorthAfrica.HetellsherthattheGermanscaughthimafteranattempttostealacamerafromawoman'sroom.Theytorturedhimandcutoffhisthumbs,leavinghishandsmutilatedandnearlyuseless.Althoughhehasrecoveredsomewhat,heisstilladdictedtomorphine.Inthevilla,hereminisceswithHanaandmournswithheroverthedeathofherfatherinthewar.AsHanaplaysthepianointhelibrary,twosoldierscomeinandstandalongsidewhilesheplays.OneofthemisKip,anIndianSikhtrainedasasapper,orbomb-defuser,intheBritisharmy.Afterhearingthepiano,Kiphascometoclearthevillaofbombs,knowingthattheGermansfrequentlybooby-trappedmusicalinstruments.KipandtheEnglishpatientgetalongverywell,astheyarebothexpertsingunsandbombsandenjoytalkingtoeachotherandsharingstories.Kipmakescampinthegardenofthevillaandbecomesapartofthe"family"thatnowexiststhere.Hegoesoffintotowneverydaytoclearmorebombsfromtheareaandtoburyfellowsapperswhohavedied.Kip'sjobisextremelydangerous.HefeelsastrongattractiontoHana,andsoontheybecomelovers.Askedabouthispast,theEnglishpatientbeginstotelltheothershisstory.HisrealnameisAlmasy,thoughthisisnotdefinitivelyconfirmeduntilChapterIX.Hespenttheyearsfrom1930tothestartofWorldWarIIexploringtheNorthAfricandesert.Hisjobwastomakeobservations,drawmaps,andsearchforancientoasesinthesands.AlongwithhisfellowEuropeancounterparts,Almasykneweveryinchofthedesertandmademanytripsacrossit.In1936,ayoungmanfromOxford, GeoffreyClifton,andhisnewwifeKatharine,joinedtheirparty.Geoffreyownedaplane,whichthepartyfoundespeciallyusefulinhelpingtomapthedesert.Theexplorers,Almasy,andtheCliftonsgotalongverywell.Onenight,afterhearingKatharinereadapassagefromhisbookofHerodotus,Almasyrealizedhewasinlovewithher.Theysoonbeganatorridandtumultuousaffair.Everywheretheystoleglancesandmoments,andtheywereobsessedwitheachother.Finally,in1938,Katharinebrokeofftheiraffair,tellingAlmasythatGeoffreywouldgomadifheeverfoundout.Althoughtheiraffairwasover,Almasyremainedhauntedbyher,andhetriedtopunishherforhurtinghimbybeingparticularlymeantoherinpublic.Atsomepoint,Geoffreysomehowfoundoutabouttheaffair.WorldWarIIbrokeoutin1939,andAlmasydecidedtocloseuptheircampandarrangedforGeoffreytopickhimupinthedesert.GeoffreyarrivedinhisplanewithKatharine.GeoffreyattemptedtokillallthreeofthembycrashingtheplaneintoAlmasy,whowasstandingontheground.TheplanemissedAlmasy,butthecrashkilledGeoffrey,leftKatharineseverelyinjured,andleftthemwithnowaytoescapethedesert.AlmasyplacedKatharineinanearbycave,coveringherwithaparachuteforwarmth,andpromisedtocomebackforher.Hewalkedacrossthedesertforfourdaysuntilhereachedthenearesttown,butwhenhegotthere,theEnglisharmywouldnothelphimgetbacktoKatharine.BecauseAlmasyhadaforeign-soundingname,theBritishweresuspiciousandlockedhimupasaspy,preventedhimfromsavingKatharine.Almasywaseventuallyreleased,butheknewitwastoolatetosaveher.HeworkedfortheGermans,helpingtheirspiesmake theirwayacrossthedesertintoCairo.AfterheleftCairo,histruckbrokedowninthedesert.Withouttransportation,hewalkedtothecavetogetKatharine.Hetookherdeadbodyandplaceditinaplanethathadbeenburiedbeneaththesand.Theplanemalfunctionedduringtheirflightandcaughtfire.Almasyparachuteddownfromtheplane,hisbodycoveredinflames.ThatwasthepointatwhichtheBedouinsfoundhimandcaredforhisburns.Littlebylittle,theEnglishpatienttellsthiswholestory.Caravaggio,whohassuspectedtheEnglishpatientwasnotreallyEnglish,hashissuspicionsconfirmed.HefillsingapsfortheAlmasy,tellinghimthatGeoffreyCliftonwasreallyanagentofBritishIntelligenceandthatIntelligencehadknownaboutAlmasyandKatharine'saffairthewholetime.TheyknewAlmasyhadstartedhelpingtheGermansandplannedtokillhiminthedesert.TheylosthimbetweenCairoandtheplanecrash,andnow,ofcourse,heisunrecognizable.ThefocusofthenovelshiftstoKip,andwearetoldhisentirestory.AlthoughKip'sbrotheralwaysdistrustedthewest,KipwentwillinglytoserveintheBritisharmy.HewastrainedasabombdefuserunderLordSuffolk,atrueEnglishgentleman,andwasthenvirtuallywelcomedintoanEnglishfamily.Kipsoongrewquiteskillfulathisjob,abletofigureoutboththe"joke"andthe"character"ofeachbombhetackled.LordSuffolkandhisgroupwereblownupdefusingabomb,andKipdecidedtoleaveEnglandandbecomeasapperinItaly.Kiphasfeltemotionallyremovedfromeveryoneinhisjobasasapper.WhenhemeetsHana,heuseshertoonceagainconnect tohumanity.AlltheresidentsofthevillacelebrateHana'stwenty-firstbirthday,andKipgrowscomfortableasherlover.WhenAugustcomes,however,KiphearsontheradiooftheatomicbombthattheUnitedStateshasdroppedonJapan.Hebecomesenraged,knowingthatawesterncountrywouldnevercommitsuchanatrocityagainstanotherwhitecountry.HetakeshisgunandthreatenstokilltheEnglishpatient,whomheseesasasymboloftheWest.KipdoesnotkillAlmasy,buttakesoffonhismotorcycle,leavingthevillaforever.Yearslater,heisadoctorinIndiawithafamilyofhisown.Thoughheishappyandfulfilledinhisnewlife,heoftenwondersaboutHana.