QUOTES OFF-CENTRE

1)" They are jealous because I am special." Act two scene two, pg 55

 2)" I am strong and nothing can destroy me." Act one scene three, pg 76.

3)"Your mind is very pure Saloma. Very pure." Act two Sscene two , pg 56

4)"Everything is so void. Who are we trying to avoid?" Act two scene three, pg 63

5)"Things are not the same. Things can never be the same. No one is ever going to let me forget." Act two scene one, pg 50

6 QUETIONS OF OFF-CENTRE

Q1: In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end?

In my opinion, the parent-child relationship is one of the factor that contributes to Vinod's inevitable end. He used to had a dilemma about his parents. He can't deny that he is angry with them as they only thinks about his studies and achievements. Although he is angry with them, he tries to feebly to excuse them for their behaviour and tries to explain to Saloma and even to himself that maybe it is just that they are different from him. What Vinod is wanting for is love, care and concern. he needs physical sense of love. But due to high position, his parents are normal to proper and distant relationships whish increases his desire to warmth and love. He gets frustrated and angrier when he tried to talk to them as he's unable to receive what he easily wants from them. In Vinod's state, he's derived from love and care and with the relationship he's sharing with his parents, it makes him confused and unsure about the true meaning of care. With weak foundation of family bond, it lead to his fall. 

Q2: 'Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.' To what extent do you agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy?

I agree to a high extend with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy. Vinod have firslty built a strong relationship with Saloma. H managed to get to know more about Saloma and get close to her. He seems determined to help Saloma. He did help Saloma. Saloma changed to become someone better. But, Vinod's presumptuous air of superiority pushes him to reject Saloma whenshe becomes stronger than him. Instead of being happy for Saloma when she finally makes progress to be reintegrated into society, Vinod becomes unhappy, even distraught. He intend to provide her with care, love and concern and security. But seems like he couldn't accept it that now Saloma doesn't need it anymore. Instead of taking Saloma as an example for himself to change for the better, he reminds her acidly that she was the one who rejected the world in the first place and advised her that she cannot live like other people because she is not normal to begin with. Vinod is totally being unreasonable. In the first place, vinod is the one who tells himself that he has to protect her but ironically it is this need to protect her that gives him strength. He have also confidently stopped his medication knowing its effects. He thinks topo highly of himself he treats Saloma's weakness to give him strength. When Saloma is strong now, he can't accept the fact that he is eak and took the decision to commit suicide.

Q3: Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.

Saloma had made a huge transformation. Saloma changes from a shy girl to someone who survives her mental illness. After her transformation, she is able to voice out with her desire to live. One of the reason that caused her transformation is when she meets Emily at the halfway house. Eventhough she starts out using the Mantra Emily taight, she does turn out to be stronger than Vinod. What pushes saloma to face the real world is the bird in her room. The bird could not be helped by Saloma, just as how Saloma's grit to survive has to come from within. Like the bird who cannot take proper flight, Saloma is unable to fit in and be part of the world dominated by the normal, centred majority who judge others like her with her mental illness. To saloma, the house is a dilemma and a conflict just like the bird's cage. It provides safety and protection. However, it is also a place of imprisonment. Saloma's anger at the bird endangering its life bye leaving its cage prompts her hunger to go out, even if it is without Vinod. This is Saloma's second turning point as before this, she does not know what to do or where to go. Mak's advice to keep think about God have also made Saloma accept it.

Q4: "Though a minor role in the play, the character Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre." To what extent do you agree with this assessment?

I agree to this assessment to a huge extent. razali is a security guard at the void deck. He starts to build a relationship with Vinod and Saloma, primarily because the void deck where the two protagonists meet os also Razali's place of workd. Razali refers to Saloma as a father and daughter relationship.  However Saloma's affection seems to run deeper almost as though he is indeed her father. His action in buying her curry puffs is by surreal twist exactly like what her deceased father promised her in her dream and connects Razali and her real father. Another plot is between Razali and Vinod. To Vinod, Razali is their guardian angel as well as their father. However Razali himself is actualy just doing his jov as a security guard. His role is made bigger through no fault of his. He never claims to be either 'father' or guardian to either of them. Indeed when Vinod accuses him of not being there during the robbery, his answer is an almost pleading and honest protest and defence of his role. This plots starts from the way Saloma and Vinod sees in Razali. They thinks too highly of Razali and blames him when he happends not to be who they thought he was.

Q5: "Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyatta" means to "Give, Sympathise, Control". How did the major characters in the play exert control in their environment and / or their lives? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

"Datta, Dayadvham, Damyata" does shows and reflect on the major character's actions. What Emily tell Saloma as the halfway house, that she will bring about peace, harmony and purity to every Singaporean. Instead of being crippled by the robbery, Vinod is urged by Emily to use it as a form of motivation and to help cleanse Singapore. Emily encourages Vinod to live on to do his part to change others because eventhough the majority do not understand the off-centre, they need their help. Emily who seems to be the only one who trascends above the various petty perspectives of society dies. Vinod ironically takes control by taking his own life, seizing back some semblance of power over his destiny.

Q6: Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.
Peer acceptance is important because without it, it would reflect to them what the people at the outside world would look at them. With peer aceptance, they could feel warmth and be derived from the feeling of loneliness. Without peer acceptance, it would lead them to be emotionally affected. Family support is the main foundation that have to be build to give confidence and courage. Without the strong family support they might not be able to lead themself to anywhere. Take Vinod as an example, without acceptance of his old friends, Denise and Charlie, it gives him the idea that the society would also look down on him and would take an advantage of him. Vinod is also derived from family love, care and support. Without family support, it lead him to fall deeply into emotions.

QUOTES OF ISLAND VOICES

Paper

-"oh, we'll just leave her alone. i was kind enough to offer to help her make money, but since she's so nasty and ungrateful, we'll leave her alone." (page 5)

-"you'll leave everything to me! i shall give him the best! he wanted a beautiful house all his life, i shall give him a beautiful house now!" (page 8)

Martyrdom Of Helena Rodrigues

-"just in case you brought anyone home, dear." (page 11)

-"mother would be all alone at home, she doesn't go out in the evenings suppose she feels lonely?" (page 13)

Sundowner

-"you mean to say only the village midwife has seen your daughter?" (page 23)

-"i'll employ only healthy workers on the estate." (page 26)

Tanjong Rhu

-"see far glasses? what do i want to look at far away things for?" (page 31)

-"ah-ma, i saw 78 ships off Tanjong Rhu today." (page 46)

Evening Under Frangipani

-"i'm sorry, Prakash but elaine's really very busy at the moment." (page 64)

-"yes, mother-too strong." (page 84)

Lee

-"my country?" (page 86)

-"i don't believe in religion, i don't believe in god." (page 97)

History Of Tea

-"i hardly know anything about him,you know." (page 117)

-"a storm in a teacup." (page 119)

A Dream Of China

-"i didn't know he ever meant to go back to China." (page 128)

-"can you get me out of China?" (page 137)

Release

-"that blueprint didn't look like the one of their property." (page 143)

-"the dogs do really bother the baby don't they?" (page 147)

An Obituary For Fifth Aunt Come Late

-"i remember most clearly her hands that first day she was there in her mother's kitchen." (page 161)

-"i can't confirm that she wasn't good-looking or smart or careful." (page 161)

Corridor

-"mak one week won't kill them." (apge 170

-"there's something that i want." (page 182)

Mid-Autumn

-"i'm not a child i can take care of myself." (page 183)

-"you so ungrateful, don't want to stay in Singapore and take care of me." (page 182)

Hamid And The Hand Of Fate

-"i don't think so. she's very protective." (page 202)

-"i'm sorry to have been such a pain today." (page 203)

The Move

-"you are not taking those foostools!" (page 204)

-"no,no, keep, kepp!" (page 208)

Pastime

-"two years pass-he thinks he could forget everything and get used to his new life." (page 215)

-"for a long time he has tried to forget his past maybe he fears the past." (page 216)