Island Voices

English Essay

Island Voices

“The use of symbolism is interestingly used to express the theme of ‘seeing’ and the effects of modernism in Tanjong Rhu and Lee”

The stories in Island Voices were compiled to highlight the consequences faced by Singaporean as the city transformed from a traditional society to a cosmopolitan Asian city. Many of the authors of these short stories use literary devices to emphasize their message. I feel that Tanjong Rhu and Lee both use symbolisms to emphasize the speed at which our world is changing. It also tells us how the different generations view or ‘see’ their culture. Tanjong Rhu tells us of the relationship between a successful executive named Mr Li and his mother. Tanjong Rhu also looks into the different meanings of ‘seeing’. We learn about this when we read how Mr Li buys a pair of binoculars for his mother, who has cataract, to see clearly. Lee, on the other hand, is a story of how a Singaporean Chinese father explains to his Americanized, street-wise daughter how Singaporeans and immigrants have to try extremely hard to be respected in a competitive world.

The theme of ‘seeing’ is prevalent in the entire story of Tanjong Rhu. The first example of symbolism used to express this theme of ‘seeing’ in Tanjong Rhu is the binoculars itself. When he first informs his mother about the binoculars, he is instantly rebuffed. This is one of the effects of modernism. Modernism causes us to look at material goods as sources of happiness and a better life. Mr Li assumes his mother wants a pair of binoculars to see more clearly and will ensure that the rest of her time spent of earth would be much better. Later she finally relents in the hope of ‘seeing’ Tanjong Rhu, “If they can see as far away as Tanjong Rhu, I will try them”.

Also, later in the story, we find out that his mother had not meant ‘seeing’ in the literal sense but ‘seeing’, metaphorically, back into the past, “I see our attap hut the sea, among the half-built hulls of fishing boats…”. She wanted to relive the past again, back to the time when Mr Li was a young boy. The binoculars also tell us of how easily the past can be lost and forgotten. The older generation, like Mr Li’s mother, wants to remember it but the younger generation, which includes Mr Li, refuses to remember his past, as though he is ashamed of it, “Stop it… That’s enough…”. Mr Li’s mother has also lost her eyesight due to cataracts, “Cloudy with the pale thickness of accumulated years”.

The theme of ‘seeing’ also appears as Mr Li continually ‘looks’ for something better. He is constantly searching for what makes him happier in life, “Mr Li stood for a long time looking out of his office window high above Shenton Way.” His mother is also constantly searching for a way to view the past. She has a totally different meaning of what can make her happy. For Mr Li, it’s the materialistic things that satisfy him initially. But for his mother, she values relationships and the existence of life above wealth. This can be seen as she ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

In Tanjong Rhu, we also learn how the different generations ‘view or see’ their culture. The younger generation, like Mr Li and his daughter, rarely speak Cantonese. The process of learning one’s native language involves the learning of the related culture and traditions. The inability to speak in one’s native language means there is loss in tradition and culture. The death of a language results from a complex of internal and external pressures that induce a speech community to adopt a language spoken by others. One of the pressures is modernization. The influence of modernization has caused us to forget how to speak our native language as English is internationally recognized, “He felt tongue-tied speaking Cantonese after a day’s use of English”. Mr Li is also filled with loss when his mother dies. He regrets not spending time with her and listening to her talk about the past, “I should have asked her then… I should have sat her down and talked to her. I should have listened”.

In Lee, ‘seeing’ depicts the ‘perception of culture and tradition’. Lee has just arrived from America where she has been living for the past 8 years. At the start of the story we can see that Lee has already been influenced by the Western culture. Originally, Lee’s name was Li Wen, which she changed to make it sound less Chinese, “But everyone calls me Lee”. Lee also does not speak her native language, which is Cantonese, “Lee’s Cantonese being abysmal”. The rejection of native language also represents rejection of culture. Lee’s mother also did not speak Cantonese and did not have an altar at home (which was a symbol of the Taoist religion). Thus, culture and traditions are being rejected by two generations and this may be an effect of being influenced and adopting the Western culture and mannerisms. This is similar to that in Tanjong Rhu. Both stories show us how cultures are being rejected because of the strong influence from modernization.

At the beginning of the story, Lee and her father are both prejudiced against each other. Lee is more inclined to judge people based on her perception of their culture and appearance, “Man, you could always tell a Singaporean woman in LA”. Her father on the other hand, sees Lee as a “Californian cliché” as she eats only vegetables, yogurt and vitamin tablets. Lee also gets “thrown out of school for disrespect” and “consciously rejects any experiences she had in Singapore”. This is because she hates being Asian or Chinese. She views all Asians as “claustrophobic people having a neurotic culture”.

The poster ‘Blind’ is a very important symbol in this story. This poster represents what both Lee and her father are experiencing. They are both looking for the purpose and meaning of their lives. They are both ‘seeing’ but never finding the particular thing that would make their lives happier, “still can’t see what he wants desperately to see”. This has strong links to how Mr Li in Tanjong Rhu feels. Lee, her father and Mr Li are continually searching for a deeper meaning in life. They know that material goods do not bring them happiness, but they still look at material goods as sources of happiness. Perhaps they do not know how to treasure spiritual happiness and relationships as they were brought up in a society where everything did not have a personal touch and were done by machines.

The giving of the poster to her father at the end of the story shows us that a deeper relationship and bond has formed between the both of them. They have overcome the biased perception they have of each other. They are more like friends rather than father and daughter. A reason for this is that they have ‘seen into’ the other person and not just judging ‘a book by its cover’.

The poster being named as ‘Blind’ has a deeper meaning to it. The lack of the ability to see is called being blind. However, there is also a literary meaning to ‘being blind’. It can mean that one is only looking only on the surface and not deeper. This can be seen when Lee and her father judge each other on stereotypes and biased perceptions. Instead they should be accept each other they way they are and accept the other for who they really are. This is linked to my question where the theme of ‘seeing’ is being questioned.

Tanjong Rhu and Lee have many things in common. Both talk about the effects of modernization, culture rejection by the younger generation and ‘seeing’. Both also use symbolisms to portray certain themes. Tanjong Rhu has the binoculars and Lee has the poster ‘Blind’. The theme of ‘seeing’ works on many different levels throughout both stories. There is the idea of ‘looking or seeing’ for a deeper meaning in life, ‘looking’ deeper into a person and not just judging them based on appearances, and finally, the way the different generations ‘view’ their culture.

Another thing that Lee brings out is the idea of Jungian. The definition of Jungian is ‘maintaining Jung’s psychological theories, especially those that stress the contribution of racial and cultural inheritance to the psychology of an individual’. Lee defies the theories of Jungian. She almost hates her cultural and racial inheritance. She would rather adopt the habits of Americans, though bad, than admit that she is Asian and Chinese. She rejects the memories of her life in Singapore purposely. She is also thrown out of school for disrespect, “Lee had finally been enrolled at the American school”, which is a big no-no in an Asian society.

In Tanjong Rhu, our sympathies lie with Mr Li. He is stuck between living in a modernized world but at the same time wanting to relive the past again. His wife is a symbol of how modernism has affected her way of life. She is called “Helen”, a ‘modern’ name and calls Mr Li “Edward”, instead of his Chinese name. She also has “high tea” with her friends, just like the Westerners. She has been influenced by the Western culture and she has probably forgotten about her heritage and roots.

Though different authors wrote both stories, a valuable lesson can be derived from them. Culture and traditions are meant to improve our lives. However, there are instances when one finds certain setbacks in their culture and tradition. They would want nothing to do with their past. Subsequently, it is the individual prerogative. I am sure none of us would want to end up as Lee, who hates being who she really is, “I don’t think I like being Asian or Chinese”.

Works sited:

http://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/store/writing_resources/articles/article_spore1+4.html

http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/nabe/brj/v19/19_1_crawford.pdf

Alyssa Stefanie Peter

11JLa