June Holiday Assignment

5 MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM OFF-CENTRE



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



In my opininon, i can say that the parent-child relationship was a vital key role to Vinod's end. Vinod's parents had high expectations for Vinod and they wanted him to achieve it as soon as possible. But Vinod knew that it was all too much for him. His parents too do not seem to have a good relationship with their son Vinod. This was all Vinod wanted, which was love and care from his parents but he did not recieve any. He was instead forced to go overseas and study further which was not what Vinod wanted to do. Vinod was not accepted by his parents for what he is and one of his expectations was to get excepted by his parents. Not being accepted by his parents and the way he was treated by his parents added to the pressure he is taking. Eventually it led to his emotional breakdown and finally Vinod's inevitable end.



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 only to a certain extent. Vinod held high expectations for himself and he aims to achieve it. One expectation for himself was to be the caretaker for Saloma. He saw Saloma as a lost kitten with no guidance from anyone and he hoped to be her guardian. He decided to make Saloma happy, gave advices to her and also help her whenever she is in need of any help. But as the story goes on Saloma began to be normal and that was not what Vinod wanted. He felt that he has failed in helping Saloma and with that he felt that he was no longer needed and this led to his depression for not fulfilling his expectations, hence leading to his downfall. Another expectation from Vinod was to get exceptance form his parents for who he is. But Vinod did not get what he wanted, instead his parents does not really care about him and only wants him to do what they want him to do. Having this result, Vinod felt hopeless and also found no reason for him to be alive as he did not fulfilled much of his expectations. Vinod went into depression and decided to commit suicide.





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


One of the few reasons was because she had the suppport and faith from her religion. She believed that God can help her. By having this mindset Saloma progressed herself without her realising. She began having faith in all she did and was determined to make life better for herself and her Mak. Another reason was that Saloma began to think openly about the world. She felt that she was the same as the others and she could do what other people can. She started applying for jobs hoping that she can start a new for herself and leave the past all behind her. Vinod also played a role in Saloma's transformation as he gave advices to her and he also had helped her in seeing the world as a normal.




Q4: "Though 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 assessment?

I agree only to a certain extent. In this story Razali appears to be a security guard at a void deck. He only appears to Vinod and Saloma. Razali was seen as a caretaker for Saloma and she felt safe whenever Razali was around. Everytime when Razali appears to Salome he would always tell her good things about herself. This had an impact for Saloma as she had support from Razali. Vinod sees Razali as his Bapak and he looks up to him. Vinod knows that Razali would always be there in protecting him. When Vinod lloked up to Razali as a Bapak and a caretaker he wanted to be like him for Saloma. But he could not be like Razali. Basically Razali's character is one of the key to the plot of Vinod going into depression again, being off-centre and later on causing him to commit suicide.






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.

Vinod in this play exerted his control towards Saloma. He took advantage of Saloma's weakness which was not having any guidance from anyone. He took control of Saloma by trying to tell her that she should stay the way she is and should not be normal. By doing this he would always have control over Saloma. For Saloma, she had the support from friends, family and religion to take control in her life. The advices given to her about why she should see herself as the same as others got her braver and braver. She know see that she can do anything that the other people do and she is determined with that.

Q6: Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.

I think that having peer acceptance and famital support are vital especially for the main characters. In Vinod's case not having any of this had him fall into another depression and caused his downfall. His paremts did not care much about him and did not give him the proper care and love parents should give to their child. They also did not except Vinod for who he is. One of the reasons why Vinod commited suicide was because he did not get acceptance from his parents or any support from them. For Saloma, she had alot of support from her friends, parent and religion. Emily, who Saloma knew gave Saloma good advices and told Saloma that she was special. This gave Saloma strenght together with the her Mak who tried convincing her that Saloma was not ill and Mak would always be there for her. Saloma had a huge transformation in the play due to all the support she had and the peer acceptance she had.


1) "They are jealous because I am special"
2)"I am strong.Nothing can destroy me"
3)"God is better at helping Himself...at our expenses"
4)"Saloma, the robbery...its a sign"
5)"You are not mad!!!you are my daughter"

Tanjong Rhu

1) I think that the authors use the traditional chinese rituals for more profound purposes. One of the purposes is to show the characteristics of Mrs li. It is to show that Mrs Li was religious and traditional and takes the rituals very seriously and does it in a proper manner.

2) I think that such cultural rituals are still necessary and that it is good for use to perform the rituals. I think that it is good for us to perform the rituals as it shows that we know our ro0ots and have not forgotten the traditional rituals.

3) I think that not all elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the comtemporary world. I think that an elderly like Mrs Li should be contented to only a certain extent to the contemporary world because what they want in their life is also ver important for them especially happiness.

4) Lookinjg back at the past is important for all of us as it trains our memory but when thought of the past too much it may involve some negativity in our life. Especially when there are past emotions in the past and it is brought back to conjure up our emotions and our present life.


A Dream of China

1) I think that it is suitable to refer Singapore as a 'Diamond city' because it is 'sparkling' in the present world. Singapore has grown and developed tremendously over the past years to a vibrant city amongst other countries. I feel that Singapore is a great place to live in with its peaceful atmosphere. Also Singapore has low crime rates and this makes me feel secure in Sinagpore.

2) I think that her uncle wants to be ironic knowing that he lives in a poor living condition. I regard him with distaste because he shows arrogance even when her niece kept buying him the orange dish. I also see her uncle as a very rude man after being treated with utmost respect form his niece.

3) I think that this is a contradiction. She went there to witness China herself together with the stories her father told her about the beautiful image of China . But she had seen her uncle's house which is dirty and in a poor condition place. Still her father says that China is a beautiful place and land.

4) The narrator meant that the people who lives in their country are the ones who gives the image of the country. I agree that her father is a good man due to the contents in the story, telling us the good things her fathers does. I think that the country that should claim him as its own is Singapore.

1) How is motherhood presented in any two or three stories in the collection?
The stories are Hamid and the hand of fate and Paper. In Hamid and the hand fate, Hamid's mother cared for him when he lost his right arm and was there at the hospital when he woke up. She told Hamid to accept what has happened to him and to recite his declaration of faith. This shows that she is kind and cares for Hamid. In Paper, Tay Soon's mother-in-law took charge of the situation of Tay Soon getting out of hand when his wife just stood back while watching the terrible change her husband is undergoing. This shows that his mother-in-law is caring and knows what her son-in-law wants.

2) Select the 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.
The stories are Tanjong Rhu and Lee. In the story Lee, she and her father had difficulty in communicating with each other because Lee left with her mother when she was eight-year-old. But after the long years her father tries to make it up to her by trying to be a good father. As the story goes on the relationship beteween Lee and her father was much more better as compared to the time they first met at the airport.

In Tanjong Rhu, Mr li and his mother have conflict. Mr Li always tries tom help his mother but his mother always refuses his help. He bought a binoculars once and tried to give it to his mother as a present but his mother said that she did not need it eventhough she cannot see things that are far away. At the end of the story, Mr Li's mother died and Mr Li changed and became more religious.





3)With reference to suitable stories, discuss how far changes is shown to be either welcomed, or feared.


The two stories are Corridor and Hamid and the Hand of Fate. In the story Corridor, when the grandmother and the neighbour first talked about people who tempered with the water pipes, they had some disagreement. After that, the neighbour avoided her and she never saw them. The famliy's slippers were sometimes found at the staircase. They suspected this was the way the neighbour retaliated. Finally, the grandmother saw light at the neighbour's home which was a sign they wanted to change.





In Hamid and the Hand of Fate, Hamid was a construction worker and one day he had an accident that resulted in him losing his right arm. Due to the accident he got money and this led to alot of attention. The money he got changed the way people looked at him. Salmah his sister-in-law was one of them. She started talking with him and soon she was asking money from Hamid.





4)How are young people and their ideals presented in two or three stories in the collection? How far do you identify with these young people.




The two stories are Hamid and the Hand of Fate and Mid- Autumn. In Mid - Autumn the author's daughter was grown up being a spoiled child. But as the story goes on she instead became a better person who wants to help people in other countries. She represents young people with big inspiration and have the will to fullfill what they want to do.

In Hamid and the hand of fate, Hamid wanted to help his sister-in-law and gave her his money.He gave her his money to show that he cares. He represents the young people who are kind and helpful to others.


5)Choose two stories that reveal the thinking of an older generation of Singaporeans. What new insights have you gained from such a revelation.

The two stories are Tanjong Rhu and A Dream of China. In Tanjong Rhu, Mr Li's mother is religious and always remembers the past. She remembers the good times she had with her son and her husband when they lived in Tanjong Rhu.

In Dream of China, the author' s father also likes to remember the past. He remembers the good things about Chinas and tells it to his children. The older generation of Singapore finds it difficult to let go of their past.

Story: Release

Conflicts: 1)Eileen and neighbour- Eileen's neghbour was rude to her.(pg 140)
2)Eileen and Philip- Eileen was irritated with Phillip's voice.(pg141)
3)Eileen and neighbour- Eileen's neighbour cut down the guava tree near the fence separating the two houses and was upset about it.(pg141)
4)Eileen and neighbour' puppies- Eileen was irritated by the puppies because their whinning kept the baby crying and keeping her awake and unable to sleep.(pg 144)

Climax: The climax was when eileen met the man wearing a cap and dirty jeans feeding the puppies late at night.(pg146)

Resolution: Open ended

Characters:Eileen- friendly(pg 139), kind(pg 146), persistent(pg 146)
Philip- polite(pg 142), good listener(pg 142)
Nieghbour- rude(pg 142)

Story: Lee
Conflicts: 1)Lee and father- Lee did not respect her father.(pg 90)
2)Lee and other chinese students or teenagers of her age- Lee did not mix with chinese people.(pg 102)
3)Lee and Singaporeans- Lee did not like to dress like Sinngaporeans as she thinks it is tacky.(pg98)
4)Lee and herself- lee di not like being and Asian or a chinese.(pg 105)

Climax: When Lee and the author saw a woman at the Chinese Garden.(pg 96)

Resolution:Open ended

Characters:Lee- undersatnding(pg 91), music lover(pg 87), curious(pg 91), straighforward(pg 90)
Author- observant(pg 92), caring(pg 100), patriotic(pg 96)
Author's Mother- Kind(pg 100)

Story: Pastime
Conflicts: 1)Tai poh- Tai poh did not care whether he did something wrong in his past(pg 213)
2)Tai poh- Tai poh could not meet or see the girl at first(pg 216)
3)Tai poh- Tai poh cannot let go of his past(pg 216)

Climax: When the author said he had the same pastime as Tai poh(pg 216)

Reolution- Open ended
Characters: Tai poh- good imagination(pg 212), curious(pg 218), good memory(pg 213), fears his past(pg 216)
Author- observant(pg 215), curious( pg 216)
Young girl- sociable(pg 219)