How is motherhood presented in any two or three stories in the collection?
Mid-autumn
In the story mid-autumn, it shows a mother's pain and confusion when her daughter decides to leave Singapore to be a social worker in Uganda. Having obtained her GP qualifications, the daughter decides that a lifestyle characterized by "mobile phones, golf weekends and club membership in Langkawi" holds little appeal for her, whereas the mother had undergone a life of privation to make these options available for her daughter. From here you have observed that the mother has sacrificed her time and has gone through hardship for her daughter. She even went to the extend of giving her daughter a better life eventhough she was the breadwinner of the family. As a mother she wanted the best for her daughter. She doesn't want her daughter to go through the experiences that she faced. She was not given any support from anybody and she wants her daughter to know that unlike her, her daughter has her to rely on. She wants to provide financial support for her daughter to succeed in her studies and not regret her decisions, the way she did. She was not able to go to university due to the money issue so she wants to make sure her daughter has enough of everything. But, after all these years, her daughter didn't even intent to repay her kindness. When she have left for Uganda, she didn't realise that her mother was so worried and at the same time was waiting for her return. Thus, these shows the mother's concern and love towards her daughter.
Paper
In the story paper, it shows a mother's care and concern towards her son. Mother had been working hard all her life to support the family till there was no time to pursue her dreams. She made sarcastic remarks to express her feelings towards her son, Tay Soon. She doesn't want her son to be too ambitious and regret his decisions. Although her words may be harsh most of the time but, her intention was to advice him that luxury is not the most important thing in life. The mother doesn't like it when he keep boasting about his dreams as the mother knew that, a dream would always be a dream. Although the mother was harsh and too insensitive towards the son's feelings when advising him, still she cared for Tay Soon.The mother even took charged of the situation while Yee Lian, Tay Soon's wife, escaped from the situation and running away searching for help instead of being beside Tay Soon, comforting. The mother was the only one brewing and straining medicine for him for hours when Tay Soon fell ill. During Tay Soon's funeral, the mother even wanted to give the best for him. Eventhough, when Tay Soon was still alive, he does not even show any gratitude towards his mother at all. Thus, no matter what blood is still thicker than water.
Select two stories in which there is conflict between parent and child, and show how far there is some resolution of these differences at the end of the story.
Lee
In the story Lee, it shows both internal and external conflict between the child, Lee, and her father. They had a strained relationship and was not in a good terms. In every conversation that they made, and argument would be created. Both father and daughter had different perspective on their own country, Singapore. Lee dislike the culture in Singapore which made her criticized everything about it but what made it worse was the fact that her father tried to change her drastically. She felt uneasy to adapt the lifestyle here in Singapore. But then, after Lee had started to adapt, another conflict between her and her father arose. Her father dislike her new friend, Holden Mankiewicz, an American, that have been hanging around their flats frequently. Whats more, his appearance was sloppy and her father saw him and her in his bedroom. They had a tiff. Although they often argued, Lee would always be the one who broached a reconciliation. The conflicts between them helped to tighten their kinship. Everytime conflicts occur, both Lee and her father don't usually bottle up thus it doesn't lead to a misunderstanding.
Tanjong Rhu
In the story tanjong rhu, most of the conflicts occur between Mr Li and his mother. The mother kept on emphasizing that although he could afford things, she does not need it. This upset Mr Li's feelings as he sincerely wants to help her see the world. At this point of time, she was too insensitive towards his feelings and despite his advice to undergo the operation, she refused. Out of concern, Mr Li bought binoculars for his mother but instead, his mother kind of chided him by asking whether she was able to see tanjong rhu with the help of the binoculars while tanjong rhu was far away from them. Mr Li forced his mother on the binoculars because he could not believe that she could not see the cargo ships when almost everyday, he counted them without the help of it. But then, when Mr Li finally realised and understood what his mother meant, everything was too late as his mother has passed on.
With reference to a suitable story, discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed or feared.
Corridor
In the story corridor, it shows a sense of fear as a murder took place and caused drastic change. Before they went of for Jakarta, they were in bad terms with their neighbours because of some conflicts they had. The neighbours were unhappy with them and tried to make their lives difficult. This happened because of lack of understanding with one another. When they were in Jakarta, a murder took place which questioned and shocked everyone. Upon their arrival back in Singapore, they were welcomed and greeted by their neighbours. They were relieved by the neighbour's actions. Their neighbours started to be open with them and were friendly back to them. Although at the starting, they had a strained relationship, but i the end, they were able to overcome and settle those problems that occured. thus, were welcomed back.
how are young people and their ideas presented in 2 stories in the collection? How far do you identify with these young people?
Mid-autumn
In the story mid-autumn, it shows a mother's pain and confusion when her daughter decides to leave Singapore to be a social worker in Uganda. Having obtained her GP qualifications, the daughter decides that a lifestyle characterized by "mobile phones, golf weekends and club membership in Langkawi" holds little appeal for her, whereas the mother had undergone a life of privation to make these options available for her daughter. From here you have observed that the mother has sacrificed her time and has gone through hardship for her daughter. She even went to the extend of giving her daughter a better life eventhough she was the breadwinner of the family. As a mother she wanted the best for her daughter. She doesn't want her daughter to go through the experiences that she faced. She was not given any support from anybody and she wants her daughter to know that unlike her, her daughter has her to rely on. She wants to provide financial support for her daughter to succeed in her studies and not regret her decisions, the way she did. She was not able to go to university due to the money issue so she wants to make sure her daughter has enough of everything. But, after all these years, her daughter didn't even intent to repay her kindness. When she have left for Uganda, she didn't realise that her mother was so worried and at the same time was waiting for her return. Thus, these shows the mother's concern and love towards her daughter.
Paper
In the story paper, it shows a mother's care and concern towards her son. Mother had been working hard all her life to support the family till there was no time to pursue her dreams. She made sarcastic remarks to express her feelings towards her son, Tay Soon. She doesn't want her son to be too ambitious and regret his decisions. Although her words may be harsh most of the time but, her intention was to advice him that luxury is not the most important thing in life. The mother doesn't like it when he keep boasting about his dreams as the mother knew that, a dream would always be a dream. Although the mother was harsh and too insensitive towards the son's feelings when advising him, still she cared for Tay Soon.The mother even took charged of the situation while Yee Lian, Tay Soon's wife, escaped from the situation and running away searching for help instead of being beside Tay Soon, comforting. The mother was the only one brewing and straining medicine for him for hours when Tay Soon fell ill. During Tay Soon's funeral, the mother even wanted to give the best for him. Eventhough, when Tay Soon was still alive, he does not even show any gratitude towards his mother at all. Thus, no matter what blood is still thicker than water.
Select two stories in which there is conflict between parent and child, and show how far there is some resolution of these differences at the end of the story.
Lee
In the story Lee, it shows both internal and external conflict between the child, Lee, and her father. They had a strained relationship and was not in a good terms. In every conversation that they made, and argument would be created. Both father and daughter had different perspective on their own country, Singapore. Lee dislike the culture in Singapore which made her criticized everything about it but what made it worse was the fact that her father tried to change her drastically. She felt uneasy to adapt the lifestyle here in Singapore. But then, after Lee had started to adapt, another conflict between her and her father arose. Her father dislike her new friend, Holden Mankiewicz, an American, that have been hanging around their flats frequently. Whats more, his appearance was sloppy and her father saw him and her in his bedroom. They had a tiff. Although they often argued, Lee would always be the one who broached a reconciliation. The conflicts between them helped to tighten their kinship. Everytime conflicts occur, both Lee and her father don't usually bottle up thus it doesn't lead to a misunderstanding.
Tanjong Rhu
In the story tanjong rhu, most of the conflicts occur between Mr Li and his mother. The mother kept on emphasizing that although he could afford things, she does not need it. This upset Mr Li's feelings as he sincerely wants to help her see the world. At this point of time, she was too insensitive towards his feelings and despite his advice to undergo the operation, she refused. Out of concern, Mr Li bought binoculars for his mother but instead, his mother kind of chided him by asking whether she was able to see tanjong rhu with the help of the binoculars while tanjong rhu was far away from them. Mr Li forced his mother on the binoculars because he could not believe that she could not see the cargo ships when almost everyday, he counted them without the help of it. But then, when Mr Li finally realised and understood what his mother meant, everything was too late as his mother has passed on.
With reference to a suitable story, discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed or feared.
Corridor
In the story corridor, it shows a sense of fear as a murder took place and caused drastic change. Before they went of for Jakarta, they were in bad terms with their neighbours because of some conflicts they had. The neighbours were unhappy with them and tried to make their lives difficult. This happened because of lack of understanding with one another. When they were in Jakarta, a murder took place which questioned and shocked everyone. Upon their arrival back in Singapore, they were welcomed and greeted by their neighbours. They were relieved by the neighbour's actions. Their neighbours started to be open with them and were friendly back to them. Although at the starting, they had a strained relationship, but i the end, they were able to overcome and settle those problems that occured. thus, were welcomed back.
how are young people and their ideas presented in 2 stories in the collection? How far do you identify with these young people?
In the story Lee, Lee who just came back from Los Angeles was too adapt there that she didn't bother of her own country, Singapore where she was born. She even criticized the culture practised here and are not even keen to adapt here. Although she's a chinese and have her own religion but she seems not keen to know more about it and also even to acknowledge it. She's quite ignorant and unappreciative.
While for in the story mid-autumn, the daughter, still went to Uganda and didnt even give a thought to her mother who have taken care of her all this while. She didn't even gave a thought how her mother's doing back in Singapore and whether her mother is missing her or not. She doesn't know that her mother was so worried about her. In this situation, she's being inconsiderate and is so ignorant.
Hello Jummirah! (:
ReplyDeleteThis comment is from Nuramirah, Chiho and Tsz Ho. We'd like to comment on your answers which is very elaborated. Well done! Some of your posts are completed with the evidences too! However, your information should be elaborated longer .you shold also include apge number in your evidence .