Short story:

TANJUNG RHUPart 2: Theme and Characters &

Characteristics

THEME

▪The main idea, message, or the subject that runs through the story.▪The title is a good clue to the theme of the story.▪There may be more than one theme and they become clearer as one reads through the story.

THEMES

Family relations

hip

Filial piety

Keeping alive

memories of family

members’ childhood

Traditional

practices versus modern

ways and ideas

Generation gap

Ancestors

worship

CHARACTERS &

CHARACTERISTICS

Mr. Li (Ah Wa)▪ A successful businessman

(shipping sector)▪ Has a happy childhood in

Tanjung Rhu▪ Close relationship with his

mother but does not open up to her easily

▪ Modern in his ways and ideas▪ Tolerant▪ Meticulous (paying careful

attention)▪ Patient and respectful▪ Filial (a virtue of respect for

elders)▪ Strict and does not entertain

disrespect from the young▪ Regret not talking to Ah Ma

and never listening when she talked

Ah Ma (Mr. Li’s mother)▪ Traditional with strong religious

beliefs▪ Meticulous – keep all the prayer

paraphernalia under lock & key▪ Determined to do things her way▪ Good memory▪ Old-fashioned – does not believe

in having eye operation for cataract

▪ Proud and refuses to admit to ill-health

▪ Clings to the past – refuse to accept changes

▪ Proud of son’s success – voices her feelings to dead husband

Ying (Mr. Li’s daughter)

▪ Loving – takes care of grandmother in hospital

▪ Generation gap with grandmother – as teenager feels that one need not be fastidious (very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail) when doing prayers to ancestors

▪ Persuasive – tries to persuade her grandmother to let her do the praying

Helen (Mr. Li’s wife)

▪ A lady of leisure who enjoys having tea with her friends▪ Superficial and full of

pretence▪ She mentions the

children’s overseas education to impress her friends