By: Heidi Munan

Place Setting

A small village in Sarawak named Dalat

The village chief’s house The Oya River in Sarawak

The Oya River

Dalat

Time Setting

The past – not specified in the text

The Chief

Kind Peace-loving Fair

Wise

He keeps his village together

He has gained his people’s respect.

He knows the strengths and weaknesses of his 3 sons.

Galau

Wise and shrewd

Sensible

Forgiving

Defence strategies: - cutting halfways

through the tree trunks

- the design of the tall house

Asks villagers to stop fighting and bury the dead and comfort the living instead.

Mourned Umat’s death

Umat

Brave Reckless Headstrong Hot-tempered Bossy Presumptuous Disrespectful Non-traditional Short-sighted

He fights and wins in many battles

He feels he is entitled to be chief since that he is a

better fighter.

He does not respect the customs.

He cannot see that Galau is a better leader than

him.

Lutong

Sensible, and smart

Loyal

Peace-loving

Suggested that both Galau and Umat could take turns being chief

had no designs to be chief

tried to patch things up between Umat and Galau

Loyalty vs Betrayal

It is the custom that the eldest son will take over the position of the father.

However, Umat doesn’t want to accept Galau as the next chief.

Umat betrays his village by bringing the enemies to attack his own village in order to achieve his own ambition.

Order VS Chaos

There will be order in the society if everybody plays his/her functions.

Greed, envy, and jealousy will only generate chaos.

This might results in bloodshed and losses in society.

Power and Leadership

Umat is obsessed with power. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that

Galau is a better leader. Umat fails to see that leadership is

not only about power, but about how one leads his followers.

Leadership is also about how one bring good to his people.

Peace VS War

The village is peaceful under the chief’s rule.

When the chief dies without naming the next chief, the situation changes.

According to the customs, Galau should be the next chief, but Umat doesn’t want to accept Galau as the chief.

The quarrels start to take place in the village.

Umat plans to be chief by bringing the enemies to attack the village.

The war happens.