The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘sacrifice

The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘sacrifice’ as, “the destruction or surrender of something valued or desired for the sake of something having, or regarded as having, a higher or a more pressing claim; the loss entailed by devotion to some other interest” (OED). The theme of sacrifice for a greater good plays a central role in Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion: for example, Patrick Lewis sacrifices his body for his father; and, Nicholas Temelcoff sacrifices his body for the construction of the bridge, and his body for the life of the nun, etc. Explore the theme of sacrifice in the novel: What is regarded as the “higher or more pressing claim” for which individuals in the novel sacrifice their bodies? Refer in detail to at least two characters in your discussion.