QUOTES FROM ISLAND VOICES

Island voices

paper
"not to worry, not to worry" he said jovially, not superstitious like his wife. "after all,its just paper gains so far."

"well just leave her alone,i was kind enough to offer to help her make money"

wife

the martyrdom of helena rodrigues
"george is such a good boy."
helena

"just in case you brought anyone home, dear"
helena

sundowner
"no doctor, tuan, but the bidan says Tijah is all right."
Aman

"i have seen everything, John, so let us relax and enjoy our sundowner"

tanjong rhu
"like a clove of garlic or what ,talking about peeling my eye!"
ah ma

"see-far glasses"

evening under the frangipani
"he knew his armpits were circled in sweat."

"whats so damn funny?"
elaine

Lee
"i don`t eat meat"
lee

"he disliked her tone, 'they are your people too!"

a history of tea
"she drank lapsang souchong and i had oolong"

there was a story grandmother used to tell

a dream of china
they could in singapore or they could return to build a new china

"don't leave me to die here. i have not long to live, i want to get out.can you get me out?"
uncle

release
"the voice on the other end of the line sounded cool"

"ask him about the fence..........."
eileen

an orbituary for fifth aunt come late
"my aunt developed a bronchial cough that wouldn't go away"

"do you remember your aunt?"

corrider
"who said i'm not happy?"

"there are naughty kids, sometimes they pee on the stairs"

mid autumn
"she can be a doctor ,make big money ,find a good husband."

"candle is so inconvenient"

hamid and the hand of fate
"if it happens ,it happens, if not...then its all god's will"

would he pay for this in another life?

the move
everything except her plants.

the question hurt his head for he had no answer.

pastime
"anyone here ,tell me their story"

"as a hobby ,he made up stories about the people he saw on the underground."

1b
In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod`s inevitable end?

Vinod's parents basically abandoned him by denying that he has mental problems. Vinod's parent's absence in the play proves to us that they have no involvement and care for Vinod's life. Vinod also doesn't really talk and reveal much about his parents. Only during act 2 scene 3, Saloma asks him and he talks about his parents. Vinod's parent, like parents these days, dont spend much time with their children and spend more time on work. Vinod's parents is an example of parents in today's society. Vinod's father is a judge and his mother is a chairperson of a corporation. From the book, act 2 scene 3, " -Saloma, i'd rather not talk about my parents. Their careers are going well. They are top people. So high you cannot see them anymore ". Vinod also craves for love and warmth but, his parents only pushes him with high hopes and expectations. Evidence from the book are, act 2 scene 3, " I'm the physical physical type. I like touch. You know... but they are formal." and, act 2 scene 3 " he needs a hug ". Both evidences shows that Vinod wants love form his parents. His lacking in parental love could also be the cause of his mental illness and his end.

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

I agree to much extent that Vinod’s high expectation of himself caused his downfall. Vinod thought that he could carry any burden on his back. One such burden is, Saloma. From Vinod’s perspective, Saloma was a lost kitten that he had found. Instead, of having somebody to care about, it looks more as if it was an extra burden that he had to carry. Like the saying, 'misery loves company'. Vinod thinks highly of himself and this could be the result of his parent’s high hopes and expectations for him.

Discuss the reason for saloma`s transformation in the play.

The reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play could emotional help from her friends and medication as a cure for their mental illness. Firstly, when Saloma met Emily at the halfway house, Emily taught her a mantra,(from act 2 scene 2) " They are jealous because i am special" and " I am strong. Nothing can destroy me ". These two mantras that Saloma was taught about, made her feel emotionally stronger when facing problems and it also made her believe in herself. The mantra was used during a conversation she had with Vinod and he was impressed with her strong words. Secondly, taking her medication could also be one of the reasons. Since the start of the play,(act 1 scene 2) Vinod and Saloma have been in a disagreement on wether medicine could cure them. Saloma finds medication as the solution of her mental illness. Saloma has been taking her medicine eventhough Mak and Vinod disagree in medication. When Saloma takes her medication, she gets better. But on the other hand, when Vinod takes his medication, he encounters side effects such as trembling hands. This could be the reason why Vinod hates medicines. Apart from Vinod, Mak also disagree in taking medication as a cure. Mak, who is a very religious character, believes that there is nothing wrong with Saloma and refers Saloma's illness in religious terms such as not praying well, being cursed or offended God. Another point to add in is, when Vinod came into a state of depression and shuts himself in his room, Saloma felt that she had to be independant and learn to live by herself. On that act, Saloma might have learnt that has to take care of herself and not be dependable on Vinod. One incident is, the robbery. During the robbery, it was Vinod who freaked out instead of Saloma. Saloma seemed to be more brave than Vinod. She was also the one who proposed to write a letter of complain to the newspaper for insulting mental patients instead of Vinod who was supposed to be smarter and brave in the start. To conclude, the reasons for Saloma's transformation could be, the mantras that Emily taught her and medications that she took to cure her mental problems.


"Though a minor role in the play , the character Razali is the key to the plot of off centre." To what extent do you agree with this assement ?

Eventhough the character Razali played a minor role, i agree to much extent that he was the key to plot Off Centre. One incident that proves my stand is, the robbery. During the robbery Razali wasn’t there to help Vinod and Saloma. Vinod then blame Razali for his absence. From the book, (act 5 scene 1) “ During the robbery! You are the guard. You were supposed to guard us. How come you’re not around when we need you the most?”. His absence could also mean that mental patients are less important than normal people. In the society today, mental patients are being looked down, taken advantage of, and are being less important than normal people. This could be the key to the plot, Off centre.

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

one example of control ccan be seen throughout the story where vinod tries to control saloma`s life.He thinks that he is responsible for Saloma and that he should take care of Saloma like a stray kitten which he had found.Emily also tries to control Vinod when she appears in Vinod`s dreams.In that scene,the phrase 'Datta , Dayadhvam , Damyata' is first mentioned in the story.

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


Peer acceptance and family support are both important to social status and a person`s mental well-being. Firstly, family support,as seen form the play, we can see that Vinod's parent's absence tells us that they do not have any care and concern for him. And, in the end, Vinod`ssuicides and lack of parental love could be the cause of it. From the book, act 2 scene 3, " He wanted to rush home and confront his parents ". From the evidence, we can see that he craves for parental love. He wanted his parents to care and show concern for him.Secondly, Vinod's rejection from the society and his friends proves that support from friends are important. From the play, act 5 scene 1, " Maybe you're not ready to be intergrated into the real world ". This evidence shows us Mr Chow's rejection of Vinod. After being fired, Vinod doesn't want to work because of society's rejection of mental patients.Another evidence is, " Well, it would help if some of my friends called once in a while... if ONE of my friends called ". From this evidence we can see that Vinod's " friends " rejected him because of his mental illness.In conclusion, both peer acceptance and family support is important to social status and mental well-being.

5 Off-Centre quotes

act 4 scene 1 pg 103- Datta, dayadhvam, damyata. give, sympathise, control.

act 2 scene 2 pg 55-They are jealous because i am special.

act 2 scene 2 pg 58-I am strong, nothing can destroy me.

act 5 scene 1 pg122-Don`t... er... kill yourself.

act 2 scene 3 pg63- saloma had become a stray kitten he had found in the middle of the expressway.

choose two stories that reveal the thinking of an older generation of singaporeans. What new insights have you gained from such a revelation?

Mid Autumn


The mother is very old-fashioned and traditional because she still believes very much in the Mid Autumn festival while her daughter is more mordenized and does not believe in it as much as her parents.The mother also has an outdated thinking because she thinks that her daughter should lead a more normal life as a normal Singaporean.Her daughter, on the other hand thinks that she should lead her life as the way she wants to lead it.For example,the daughter wants to go to Uganda to help out despite her mother's wish for her to go to university and get a job.

Tanjong Rhu

The mother likes to think alot about her past and cherish them while the son is more morden thinking and looks more to the present and the future.The mother also like to think about her husband(which is the son's father).Her son,on the other hand,tries to forget his father who is gone.Addtionally,when the mother looks at the mordenized Tanjong Rhu she sees the old-fashioned port which she recognized sometime back.

4)How are young people and their ideals presented in two stories in the collection. How far do you indentify with this young people?

In Tanjong Rhu, the little daughter was rude to her grandmother. In society now, teenagers are generally rude to their elderly grandmother.

3)With refrence to suitable story, dicuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed or feared.

In Paper, the change of how they were poor at first,and then became rich, and finally became bankrupt overnight. It was ironic twist to the story at the end as they finally did not achive what they desire and the husband became crazy and died of his greed.This type of change was not welcomed as this was not what they have expected to happen.

2)Select two stories in which there is conflict between parent and child, and show how far there is some resoultion of these difference at the end of

In Mid Autumn, the mother was waiting for the daughter to come back every Mid Autumn festival.Whereas her daughter always does not turn up. In the end of the story, the mother accepted her daughter's choice of leaving to Uganda.

In Tanjong Rhu, the son does not trust and believe his mother when she see's the past when using the binoculars. Her son though that she was lying and her eyes need treatment.Another conflict is when her son argued with her mother regarding her going for eye treatment. In the end the mother passed away.