Literature Posts

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Literature Project 2010 - Characters

Characteristics - Corridor

1. Mak
- Peaceful
Pg 164 " I wish she had just kept quiet, because the best old people to live with are the dull ones."
- Not petty
Pg 162 " or if their children scribbled someone's face with blue beard and spectacles, we would close an eye."
- doesn't like the outdoors
Pg 164 " you just stay in the hotel room the whole day", I am an old woman".
- not materialistic
Pg 164 " there's nothing I want".
- Observant
Pg 165 " I wanted to tell her it's because you never pass by his house".
- Righteous
Pg 170-171 " I had made up my mind to apologize to my neighbours".

2. Daughter
- Protective
Pg 164 " my daughter so eager to come to my rescue, said it's because she has a sharp mind".
- Caring
Pg 164-165 " At home, you're not happy, bring you here, you're still not happy. Tonight dinner...come with us, Mak".
- Revengeful
Pg 173 " My own daughter, whom I raised in the best manner I could, once while sweeping the corridor, brushed most of the rubbish towards their doorstep".

3. Son-in-law
- Inconsiderate
Pg 172 " he was the only one who ended up singing into the golden microphone, sitting on the sofa, making his voice have echo effects, sometimes even with his working socks on".

4. Neighbours

[Lydia]
-Secretive
Pg 162 " She always keeps her windows closed and once in a while she would bring a man back to her house".
- Fashionable
Pg 164 " Anyway she is always well-dressed, she knows how to wear shoulder pads and stockings".

[Indian man]
- Prideful
Pg 165 " you can see through the window all these cups and trophies and medals in the living-room.
- Athletic
Pg 165 " the indian man was a marathon runner".

[Indian woman]

Literature Project 2011 - Theme

Theme - corridor

Family
Pg 165 "We are so scared leaving you alone at home, Mak. With that kind of neighbour."

Personal comment
My opinion of the theme "family" is that to know each other in the family through arguement. For instance, author did not want to leave her mother alone in the house in Singapore due to the increditable neighbour. However, Her mother refused to listen because she was home sick. From this evidence,both author and her mother gained bond between each other because they understand each other through arguement. Therefore, family bond can be tighten through arguement.

Mystery
Pg 166 "Who is that man?"Pg 168 "There are naughty kids. Sometimes they urine on the stairs."Pg 172 "There was urine one day at our doorstep"" "We found a clump of earth beside the televisions."

Neighbour (negative)
Pg 165 "We are so scared leaving you alone at home, Mak. With that kind of neighbour."
Pg 171 "Our slippers went missing.""Someone's fist knocking on the door.""The next door is avoiding my eyes."
Pg 172 "neighbours slamming shut their door."

The issue of trust
Pg 172 "My son-in-law one day almost wanted to buy a video camera because he 'wanted to catch them in action' so that we could show the evidence to the police."

Theme - The Move

Family
Pg. 206 "Teos live in one bedroom, with a screen-off cubicle for Mum and Dad and three sponge matteresses for five kids."

Present
Pg. 206-207 "I'm lecturing today on labour laws to protect immigrant textile workers in New York's Garment District."
Pg. 209 "ok. Be careful in the air," said the old lady, who distrusted aeroplanes."
Pg. 210 "Smiled a little when she saw that one of the boys prised the metal door plate -02-04- off the front door as a souvenir."

Past
Pg 207 "Oh, in my time it wasn't that bad. They paid about fifty cents per pair of jean. That was good money then."" "She wondered if the boys would be hungry when they arrived with the lorry." All they and their wives and kids ate these days was food out of cans and boxes. They even drank out of boxes. Like astronauts."
Pg 208 "They'd stopped selling chickens on the premises- The government siad it was unsanitary."" "To each of the boys' questions, "Why take this?" She answered, "Then you don't have to buy a new one."

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Island Voice Quotes

Paper
The temptation was great. The rewards were almost immediate. (pg.3)
It burned brillantly, and in three minutes was a heap of ashes. (pg.9)

The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues
Helena trained her husband into near perfect punctuality for meals. (pg. 11)
...grow up between millstones of sacrifice and unselfishness. (pg. 12)

Sundowner
...beautifully polished Alfa Romeo. (pg. 19)
No doctor, tuan, but the bidan says Tijah is all right. (pg. 23)

Tanjong Rhu
See-far glasses? What do I want to look at faraway things for? (pg. 31)
The mosquitoes are biting, mother. Let's go in. (pg. 32)

Evening under Frangipani
...only message from employers is to work harder, keep to the timetable but lose your job if you have an accident... (pg. 52)
...a person is always, well, just another human being and as long as you keep that in mind its easy to relate to them. (pg. 69)

Lee
Oh.Yeah.Some.Not much.Not the humidity. (pg. 86)
Man, it'll really be funny calling someone Dad again. (pg. 88)

A History of tea
Her skin's a copper colour, burnished by the light green Calvin Klein shirt she wears. (pg. 109)
I studied nineteenth and twentieth century Chinese history, you know. (pg. 111)

A Dream of China
...my father retired in order to devote his time to bringing me up. (pg. 123)
After fifty years in Singapore, "home" for him was still Szechuan. (pg. 124)

Release
Her gold bracelet gleamed in the sun. "yeah, yeah, you're like our dog." (pg. 140)
...the tree wasn't in your property, the branches were all within ours. (pg. 141)

An Obituary for Fifth Aunt Come Late
people always say oh! you remember your aunt, the one who wasn't good-looking... (pg. 149)
"Don't waste our sugar," as in depetion of family fortune. (pg. 152)

Corridor
...once in a while she would bring a man back to her house. (pg. 162)
...as the body is sheeted and taken away is "Who's this man?" (pg. 166)

Mid-Autumn
The mooncake, if don't eat, must throw away. But like that waste money,very gek sim. (pg. 176)
New lantern --- just bought today. So gek sim. (pg. 179)

Hamid and the Hand of Fate
Stop it with the silly daydreaming and eat. (pg. 189)
Mengucap, Mid, mengucap (pg. 194)

The Move
"Ang mohs really like this kind of thing," he said, fingering the warm teak exterior. (pg. 204)
...could take some of the small ones, but those big potted palms and trees _ i think you'd blocking people's way. (pg. 205)

Pastime
"This is just a story you understand?" (pg. 213)
"Its a hobby, a pastime. It's not real life." (pg. 220)

Literature Essay

1. In your opinion how important is parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end?

I think that the relationship between Vinod and his parents are one of the main reasons for Vinod's downfall. Therefore it was vital that Vinod must have a good relationship with his parents as they could have prevented his suicide. In (Act 2 Scene III) Vinod's parents make him see psychiatrist, who does not help in any useful manner towards Vinod's illness. They also force Vinod to see a theraphist in hopes of forcing Vinod to change his views and thinkings of not wanting to attend university. This could show that Vinod's parents still do not accept his illness, he needs to have continual support/motivation from his parents who are repetitively absent from the play.

They only do things behind his back, like sending him overseas without his knowledge. "My parents are sending me away, Saloma. In January...I have to go to the states to study. I don't want to go. They stabbed me. They stabbed me." (pg 134) Vinod's parents do not really care about Vinod feelings. They do not seem to consider his opinions worth listening to. Since his parents do not give him love. He turns to Razali as their guardian and their 'bapak'. But is angry when Razali decides to leave Vinod's void deck to work somewhere else.This is one of the reasons that utimately lead to his downfall.

2. 'Vinod's high expectation of himself caused his downfall'. To what extent do you agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament.

Vinod's most important expectation is to take care of Saloma. From (Act 2 Scene III) "Saloma had become the stray kitten he found in the middle of the expressway. He had to look after her, shield her from the cruel world." [pg 63] Vinod wanted to take care of Saloma because she had become Vinod's centre. When Saloma is afraid Vinod will take her away from the thing she is afraid of. Saloma has become Vinod's object of being preoccupied. He tries to educate her and change her way of thinking. During the robbery scene (Act 3 Scene III) Vinod was not able to protect her and when the robber demeaned Vinod to be a coward, he brokedown. (pg 96) Later on, Vinod expected Saloma would need him to be by his side so that Vinod would feel needed by Saloma. But the reverse effect was that Saloma was the one that was stronger and tried to console Vinod. She went to the police station to report the case. By then Vinod started feeling worthless as Saloma was starting to become independant.

3. Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.

Saloma's progress into a stronger person is clear as we progress throughout the play.. "No, no I dont't want to jump. I don't want... I am good. I never do. Don't talk to me. Don't I don't want to hear. Why you disturb me? I don't want. ok, ok, I will beat [she starts hitting herself on the head and body] I will beat." Quoted from (Act 1 scene III) when Vinod and Saloma goes out to a resturant to celebrate their three month aniversary and Saloma breaks down due to her self-conscience that the people there are staring at her and laughing at her mental state. This tells me that Saloma does not like to go out and prefers to stay at home where she is guarded by the watchful eyes of her mother. After the robbery at (Act 5 scene I), there was an obvious change in Saloma. "Last time I scared. But this is wrong. [slight pause] Vinod, tomorrow we go out ok? I must go POSB. Because I must apply for Cash-on-Line card. I must go SGH to take application form. See Vinod... I write everything I must do. Number 1, number 2, number 3-" Quoted from Act IV scene I after the robbery. (pg 112)

As we can see that Saloma is starting to reliease that what she is doing is wrong (which is staying at home) and she must venture out into the outside world to experience how does it feel. By doing this not only we see that she has changed from the shy, fragile girl to a more confident and open-minded woman, she is showing these changes due to her regular taking of her medicine and it is quite obvious that she is recovering from her mental illness. Therefore these are the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.

4."Through a minor role in the play, the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre" To what extent do you agree with this assessnment?

The character Razali appears in Act II scene III, whom Saloma comes to regard him as a father figure, has some link to the plot of Off Centre. He narrates Vinod's depression and frustration as Vinod slips deeper into his depression. Razali may be Vinod's sub-conscience as he speaks what Vinod himself does not, even dare not, talk about. "you wake up at two, three in the morning and feel very depressed...you can't sleep...your heart hurts...you want to die...you have to die." Quoted from (Act 2 scene IV) when Razali speaks Vinod's mind. (pg 77-78) He relates it to Vinod's frustration and why Vinod could not get enough rest. He tells the truth about why Vinod's heart hurts due to to his parents' lack of love(Act 2 scene III) towards Vinod.

For Saloma who regard Razali as her father, Razali to her is precious and he remind her of her real dead father. She often view him as a wise person, someone who can resemble a father as to Saloma a father is someone who they can rely on to take care of them (Saloma and Vinod), and she trusts him. She know that Razali understands them and will advice them " [to Saloma] He wants a hug...I will hug you... He wants someone...to tell him that everything would be okay..." Quoted from Act II scene III. This tells me that Saloma knows that what Razali says is true and she will do whatever Razali wants. She trusts Razali since she regarded him as her father and knows that Razali will not make her do things which are not suppose to be done. Therefore even as a minor role, Razali plays a part in the plot of Off Centre.

5."Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyatta" means to "Give, Sympathise, Control". How did the major characters in the play exert control in their enviornment and/or their lives? Support your ansmwer with evidence from the text.

Major characters like Vinod and Saloma do exert control in their enviornment and/or their lives.
Firstly, Vinod do exert control throughout the play. He and Saloma are suffering from mental illness, an illness that many normal people are afraid of, therefore in order to melt into the society without the normal people noticing that they are mental patients, they have to exert control of their mental state to make sure that they don't break down in the middle of a public place eg. resturant. (Act 1 scene III) "they watch movies together, they ate together." and when they are in a resturant and its a public place to them. they must be extra careful so not to show the normal people about their mental disability.

Secondly, Saloma also exerts control. As for her, she has to control herself not to listen to the 'voice', a symptom of schizophrena, who say bad things about her. So in the resturant trip with Vinod in (Act 1 scene III), "...He stare at me. Other people also." Quoted from (Act 1 scene III) when Vinod and Saloma was ordering their food. Saloma and her self-conscience seem to tell her that other people are staring at her. She thought normal people has the power to tell mental patients apart from them even though they'd try their best to hide their mental disability from the normal people. This 'hiding' of their mental disability is part of exerting control. Saloma has to control her self-conscience and tell it that other people are not staring at her nor is the waiter. But since she is rather weak and its not natural for her to go out into the public, she needs Vinod's help to cope with her surroundings and therefore she did exert control over her mental disability.

6.Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.

Peer acceptance and family support are both vital to social status and mental well-being as both play a huge part in Off Centre and it mainly affects towards the major charcters, Vinod and Saloma.

Vinod has major issues on both peer acceptance and family support, which indefinately affects his social status and mental well-being in public. He needs Saloma to accept him as "to him Saloma was like a lost kitten he found in the middle of the expressway.". Vinod needed Saloma to accept him so he has a purpose in life and not to commit suicide so early. Family support for Vinod is essential as Vinod desires love and warmth from his parents, but his parents are power workhorses and their status are so high that they don't have time to spare a thought for Vinod. They only know how to make use of Vinod's intelligence to help him in his future. Therefore without a single thought of how their son feels about the way they treat him, Vinod evenutally has mental disability. This is partially caused by the lack of understanding and family support.

Saloma has problems with family support. Mak is very strict to her leaving the house and wants Saloma to rest. Saloma hates to be confided at home the whole time, but she is afraid to go out and is more then willing to exchange freedom for security. Saloma will recover faster if Mak had let her venture out to places that is not too far from her home. This way Saloma can peacefully go out and not worry about dangerous things that may happen to her. Due to Mak being her only family member (her father had died) she trusts Mak and whatever Mak said to her will directly affect how she reacts in the outside world. Therefore if Mak has chosen to let Saloma go out, Saloma will eventually recover faster due to family support.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Off-Centre Quotes

Quotes:
1."And holding on to the window grills, he felt that all he needed was a steel mug (makes motion) to rattle against the grills. He thought of Saloma and smiled. [pg 18] [ Act 1 Scene II ].

2." They are jealous because I am special". [pg 55] [ Act 2 Scene II ].

3." For Vinod, Saloma had become the stray kitten he found in the middle of the expressway. He had to look after her shield her from the cruel world." [pg 63] [ Act 2 Scene III ].

4." He wanted a fight. He wanted a win. [pause] He wanted a hug. [pg 75] [ Act 2 Scene III]

5.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

"Literature Quotes"

1.Paper
Quote: "Not to worry," he said jovially, not superstitious like his wife. "After all, it's just paper gains so far." [pg 5]

Yee Lian said not to mention their gain incase they lost their money, I think that the quote is important, as they were hoping to get their dream house but later they did a mistake by putting all their shares into OHTE and West Parks, which crashed rapidly after that, the stocks they were playing with really were just paper gains & losses which turned them into bankrupts overnight.

2.The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues
Quote: " She brought him up to believe that to insult his mother devotion to him was the ultimate blasphemy". [pg 13]

This is recurrent throughout the entire story as George tries not to hurt his mother's feelings, though he always feels guilty.

3.Sundowner
Quote: "But, Aman, the bidan is a traditional and untrained mid-wife". [pg 23]

Mr.Das, saying this is like John in his dream/illusion that he saw. I think that later he thinks whether he resembles John or Elizabeth. It is important as Mr.Das does not like the master-servant relationship.

4.Tanjong Rhu
Quote: "Suddenly, he was seized with a longing so sharp his eyes stung." [pg 39]

Sometimes his mother does things which he cannot understand, before his mother died, he looked back at his childhood memories with his mother which he had long forgotten.

5.Evening Under Frangipani
Quote: "To Elaine Prakash had seemed a man of the earth, without artifice or pretension." [pg 63]

To Elaine, Prakash was everything to her, their difference in the intelligence or prospects were different in every way she knew she couldn't change.

6.Lee
Quote:"She's illuminated and he's in the shadows;he still can't see what he wants to desperately see." [pg 93]

Lee is a very artistic, mature in thinking as people oftenly mistook for someone older than she really is. Her father is also amazed by her. Their difference are very obvious. But it is because of their difference that they truly can connect with each other.

7.A History of Tea
Quote:"The girl was not really my cousin". [pg 109]

Tien Yee has a long history behind him, that his grandparents left behind, which was far more complicated, that in a way she related to Beverly but not by blood just through past relationships.

8.A Dream of China
Quote:"His younger brother had done right and he had done wrong". [pg 126]

The narrator's father thinks that when he left for Singapore it was an act of cowardance therefore not allowing himself to go China. This is important because this shows the father's stubborness & not willing to open his eyes to see the truth.

9.Release
Quote:"Her heart froze. The baby cried. She sat down, blinded by the scream that filled her mind." [pg 148]

Eileen is unable to comprehend what just happened. Her neighbor was cold-hearted, annyoying and impatient. What she actually wanted was some peace for her baby, love from her husband, someone to understand her feelings. She did not expect a inhumane act from the neighbors to silence the puppies.

10.An Obituary for Fith Aunt Come Late
Quote:"You remember your aunt, the one who wasn't careful in the kitchen? Do you remember your aunt?" [pg 149]

Though aunt cooks and cleans for her family, she isn't remembered well, they take her granted. She has a pitiful life because people treat her as a door-mat. But aunt doesn't complain or fight back, I think that it is because of her up-bringing in the family, her family only takes that only boys are important, she is then treated as trash.

11.Corridor
Quote:"Yes, there are naughty kids around here". [pg 168]

The hating began when the author's grandchildren started playing with the neighbor's waterpipes. It reminds me how the story will progress.

12.Mid-Autumn
Quote:"but the festival makes me gek sim". [pg 176]

In this story, every mid-autumn reminds the narrator of her daughter, who left for Uganda. She gets photos from her daughter, but with bloodied hands. I think that she feels 'gek sim' because after all the hardwork in her job she expected her daughter to be someone who can support herself unlike the narrator. So she is saddened by this.

13.Hamid and the Hand of Fate
Quote:"He had but brutal fate to thank for that". [pg 192]

The protoganist in this story had lost one side of his arm during his work thus getting compensation for it. But for fate, later his life changed because he had gotten money.

14.The Move
Quote:"In some ways she was not sorry to leave her old housing estate". [pg 207]

I think that she doesn't want to leave her current house is that it was once filled with memories from the past. But once she faces her insecurity, & puts trust in her future she will be willing to move on.

15.Past Time
Quote:"This is just a story, you understand?"

I am not sure if Tai Poh's or Mr Lee's stories are real, this quote made think whether to believe it or not.

4. Is looking back at the past necessary a good thing? This particular story uses the past to affirm strong ties, emotion and sentiment, but when can

Old Mrs Li looks at the past because she wants to remember the good times she had with Mr. Lee when he was a child, telling him not to forget his father.Why does Mr Li’s mother remember the past while he does not so he tries to put himself in her shoes, and slowly recalls, did he really take long walks with his mother in the past? Remembering the past is good but if the death of a loved one makes the pain unbearable it is better to slowly forget and move into the future.