‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎“Canadiana: A Series of Speculations” presents the underlying theme of speculatory voices attempting to piece together works that depict human thought, behaviour, and interaction both internally and externally. From social to familial to personal levels, the discussion around the inability to understand others and oneself is a theme in Canadian literature, while Canadian art illustrates the great unknown of the lands that people conquer by settlement, struggles of isolation, vivid representations of alter egos, the dreams of dreamers and the bleak journey that lies ahead for anyone attempting to understand with further clarity the cognitive process of and others.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Such a vast selection of themes is only made possible by the extensive range of contributors and their experiences, thoughts, and analyses, and even then, it is important to acknowledge the void of works that did not make it onto paper or canvas to be branded as Canadian. On behalf of these people who were and are unable to exhibit their part, other Canadians commit to writing and painting to describe their joys and sufferings, their confusions and breakthroughs, and the love and hate relationships they cultivate with the condition called life.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Every other composition is accompanied by a Canadian painting. Each art essay does not necessarily analyse the piece but draws from elements of the imagery to relate its components to the respective topic, with two of them synthesizing with Canadian biographies. Each composition is relevant to the those directly around it, and they work together to create a greater analysis of Canadiana. Additionally, a review of art follows the concluding abstract of this project, which may seem anomalous but serves to keep the formatting of the overall piece consistent, as contradicting as it may seem.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Beginning with a discussion on settlement and carrying on to examine the life conditions that affect people’s lives and attitudes, the first subject of discussion revolves around communal relationships, both human and environmental. To explore the interconnection between the self and other with a few examples of xenophobic treatment and harsh, new environments, prominent Canadian novels and short stories narrate a reasons and motivations behind the behaviour toward others.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎The scope then narrows and dives into the issues of isolation, identities, and alter-egos, focusing on the familial thoughts and behaviours of people who are intimately bonded. From art interpretations that elaborate on how the universally experienced feeling of isolation is not solely a feeling, but a circumstance of life, to texts that demonstrate how identity crises are often directly linked to deranged alter-egos, the horrors and idiosyncrasy of the non-public, individual conduct individuals among only their closest kin touch on the oddity of the thought process that accompanies a sense of security.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Finally, a scrutiny on a personal, internal level draws from the previous examinations of communal and familial relationship to exemplify how Canadian texts boast of extensive insight into how delusion and dreams are a lonely and relentless journey.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Overall, “Canadiana: A Series of Speculations” is the product of a thorough examination of several prominent Canadian art and literature pieces that summarizes the most notable themes by a sequence of analytical essays, demonstrating how living conditions, social identities, and personal delusion are both overtly and subtly present in these compositions. As each essay observes, synthesizes, and analyses a variety of texts, the consequential realisation comes with acknowledging that as deep and as broad the discussions around understanding human relationships are, they are – in terms of the etymological old French, imparfait, and from Latin, imperfectus – imperfect, in the sense of “unfinished, incomplete, and immature.” The incomplete nature does not take away from the quality of Canadian works, rather, it is the condition that is often overlooked and treated as accurate and wholesome, when they are merely limited attempts to grasp at the reality in which contributors and subjects exist.