Chose 2 stories that reveal the thinking of an older generation of Singaporeans. What new insights have you gained from such a revealation?
Story: Dream of ChinaThis is about the author's father wanting to go back to China but is reluctant because he feels he has not done his duty when the country calls it's citizens. Throughout the story, his children had tried to persuade him to return but failed to do so because of his stubborness and attitude. He is stubborn in thinking is younger brother is the right person to take care of the family but he does not know his brother is irresponsible and has caused trouble in the family. He also has the thinking what he did is the most lowest and terrible thing he could do because he did not answer the calling of his country China. Why he's thinking is in the past, is reason as a modern thinker would be thinking he needs to go back to China to as least see his family once more to at least confirm that they are fine instead of confining himself to exile.
With reference to the suitable stories, discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed, or feared
Story: The Move
Madam Teo was moving house and was moving into Tommy's house her son. But she isn't too pleased as all the furniture is either given away, sold as antique or brought into the new house. She is quite frugal as she finds it a waste to throw away the stools which have been there since Tommy's childhood. Madam Teo was feeling uncertained as she had to move, times had changed her old flat would be different than the modern flat. The pomegranate tree was going to be left behind as it was too huge, she found it was an important memory, this had been with her since 1971 - the time when the government offered Singaporeans real proper flats. Towards the end, Madam Teo thought through that moving wasn't such a bad thing, it was just a change she had to go through in life and had to learn to accept it and let go of the past and move into the future with her current family she had.
Select 2 stories in which there is conflict between parent & child, show how far there is some resolution of these differences.
Story: LeeThis story is about conflict between parent and child, The two protoganist Lee and her birth father. In the starting of the story there is already a resembling difference in their background, Lee has just returned from California. Her character seen to be uncouth when the drink didn't emerged from the drink machine she kicked it impatiently.
The protoganist tries to reconcile with Lee but is not welcomed openly. From here, I think that a teenager, suddenly reuniting with a parent is not easily accepted so her cool and aloof attitude towards her father is natural, though she also tries to get along with him. On the other hand, Lee's father is feeling nervous at how she would turn out, not seeing her for so many years, how she would think of him, as he tries to be friendly and turn into a father figure for her. He is also expectant of her, to remember some parts of her home country.
Though their characters are different they get along, as it is like give and take kind of situation. Lee is straight-forward and mature despite her age. Lee's father sometimes found it embarrassing to have to answer to her questions, he was more reserved - leaning towards typical asian societies. Lee still likes California and isn't really accepting all the chinese etiquettes she has to learn or about the history. In the end, they both learn about the difference in each other and accept that.
Story: Mid-Autumn
The narrator and her daughter, conflict in the daughter's decision. When the narrator buys things for her daughter, but her daughter doesn't treasure it and says " Mummy, don't be sad, can always buy new one." The narrator works hard in order to provide a good education for her, send her to art, piano and ballet classes at the community centre, paid for her Chinese tution. She even can't even work at the job she likes and has to face those monolingual monkeys at Yat Sen Primary.
Her husband doesn't help to pay the classes that she goes to. He didn't even pay for the HDB flat in Bedok. Later she tried to run away, to get a new life and job. But she stopped for her daughter as she felt she couldn't leave and abandon her. Everything she did was so her daughter would not end up like her, with an irresponsible husband, not enough education, work and slog like hell.
In the end her repayment was that her daughter wanted to be a missionary and go to Uganda. Though the narrator has done everything for her, she would not stay as it was a calling from god. Now the narrator silently waits every Mid-Autumn to see her daughter, though she knows it will not happen, she only receives postcards and pictures of her bloodied hands.
How is motherhood presented in any two or three stories in the collection?
Story: The Matyrdom of Helena Rodrigues
This story is about Helena Rodrigues, who was Aloysious 's wife and George's mother. She was a mistress in the use of Christian martyrdom on the domestic front. Helena does not tell anyone when she works her fingers to the bones instead she makes a person feel guilty, then being able to have control over that person. Actually she had the gentle face of a nun but a force personality of an Empress Tzu Hsi. Later Aloysious died and Helena swore to take care of little George. George grew up in between milestones of sacrifice and unselfishness. Her tactics enabled her to tyrannize most people-with normal sensitive consciences.
She had made her son become very sensitive to a mother's feelings. Therefore enabling Helena to dictate Geoge's every move though on the outside she never complains and thinks for the 'welfare' of George. Later George, loved a girl, Caroline Adams she was the only one who could salvage George from falling into Helena's grasp. Sensing her power weaking, Helena used illness to make George guilty.
They later decided to get married but didn't go through with it. In my opinion, Helena enjoys being able to have control over people, she is selfish that she does not want George to leave her side, to always take care of her and care for her feelings. "Georgie is such a good boy," murmured Helena, turning large grateful eyes on him."Without him beside me I would feel melancholic and depressed: but he takes away all my pain and me happy. He has always been such a good devoted son to his old mother, I am so fortunate in my Georgie." These gentle words fell like acid on the raw quivering thing which Georgie's conscience had become. He has become too self-conscious thus obeying every whim of Helena.
Story: Tanjong Rhu
In this story, Mr Lee is fillial towards is mother, Ah ma. Though he works in an office above Shenton Way, he has a window view to his surroundings. His mother also recently deceased, he was not emotionally disturbed but had some quiet time instead. Mr Lee bought binoculars for his mother's cataracts as he was boyishly impatient to let her. In a feeble attempt to convince himself that the operation could be forestalled. This part shows Mr Lee's love and devotion towards his mother, he tried to bluff himself that his mother was still ok and the operation would not be needed.
Mr Lee was rich but couldn't over the feeling that there was too many empty rooms in his house. Later he tries to present the binoculars to Ah-Ma but feels tongue tied, even shy. But Ah-Ma kindly rejects his offer, reasons being "things you can buy, I do not need". He tries to protest and reasons to her, wouldn't she want to have better eyesight. But Ah-Ma is stubborn and also does not want to go through with the operation. Ah-Ma only accepts his binoculars as they can see Tanjong Rhu which reminds her of her deceased husband, she may be thinking she is going to join him soon and would like to see the shipyard one last time. She goes on to saying about her past memories she spent with Mr.Lee (Ah-Wah), at the shipyard. Later she go to Mr Lee's office and tries to see the cargo ships but cannot see anything when Mr Lee desperately points out that it is in front of her.
I think at this part Mr Lee is desperately trying to point out what he sees, through his eyes. And the difference that Ah-Ma sees instead, she sees the past, " A skinny little boy," "in a dirty shirt and torn khaki shorts. Barefoot, too, on the beach, walking by himself. Skipping pebbles on the waves, mumbling to himself, counting the fishing boats anchored near the Tanjong Rhu shipyard." Mr Lee is influenced by his mother, thinking about the past too.
Frustrated
Hi peeps, this is my literature blog that is wanted by Mr.Shafie. *Sighs* It's bothersome and I DON'T DO BLOGS!!! I don't know where to get a skin or link a thing that I'm doing right now, and yes I'm doing my work. Sorry i kinda uploaded this later than everyone, but i did my work. Ok so now I'm FREE!!!
