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| Leaving for the Greater Good |
In the Form 4 English Literature component, one of the the most heartfelt issue that comes to mind is the theme of sacrifice. In M.G. Vassanji's short story,Leaving, we read about the value-laden conflict of perspectives between protagonist and antagonist.
Let us delve into the relationship of Aloo, the protagonist and his mother, the antagonist.
Aloo’s doting mother is the antagonist. Widowed at thirty-three, she has 5 children. A strong
woman, she did not marry, committing to raise all five children on her own. She
was practical and focused. She sold her shop after her elder two daughters
married and then moved to quiet Upanga to take care of the youngest two children
and their education. As her elder son, Firoz, was a school dropout who worked
and lived on his own, her hopes and future were clearly pinned high on the
narrator and Aloo.
Her
younger son, Aloo is the protagonist. He is intelligent, bright and ambitious. He
is obedient and respectful of his mother.
Then
came the main event to bring conflict between mother and son.
Inspired
by Mr. Datoo, a former teacher returning from America, Aloo made a decision to study
in America. Armed with initiative and resourcefulness, he wrote to many
universities in America to seek a place to study. When Aloo was given a place to study medicine
at the famed California Institute of Technology with a scholarship thrown in,
Aloo was ecstatic! The door to opportunity and many related possibilities opened
before his eyes.
While
mother-son relationship was on an even keel of respect, responsibility and duty
until now, the university offer and scholarship issue started to cause a schism
to appear between mother and son. Their relationship was now put to a test.
Will it bend or will it break or will the test strengthen their relationship
further?
Both
had their points of view on this matter. Let’s look at them.
For
Aloo, to study in America, represents a vision of his tomorrow, the fruition of
a longing hope. America was a brand new world out there for his taking. It will
provide him with a golden opportunity to not only study at a renowned
university but also in his desired course-medicine. On top of that he was
awarded a scholarship! Certainly, not that Agriculture offered by a local
university which he looked upon with so much disdain. He had friends studying
overseas and these peers became his models to look beyond his native shores for
education prospects.
Aloo
was certainly disappointed when his mother did not share his excitement, hopes
and dreams. When his mother brought up the issue of money that was needed to
spend in America that was beyond the remit of the scholarship, he suggested
that they could borrow some or that he could also work to help supplement the shortfall
of the fees and other overheads. This shows his desperation to take advantage
of the opportunity to be something better; to be someone better.
For
his mother, Aloo’s opportunity to study overseas certainly forced her to think
long and hard. She realized she had many misgivings. Although she may not have
to spend too much money to enable Aloo to go to America, she bore some unspoken
fears; utmost being, that she may lose her son forever to a foreign land if he
did not return. She also found out that she was conservative as she harbour a
fear that Aloo might take a foreign wife. Similarly, she was also concerned
that Aloo, being on his own, may fell victim to bad habits such as smoking and
drinking.
Though,
having mixed feelings as an overprotective mother who may be about to lose one
of her son, albeit briefly, she was not blatantly against Aloo and his ambition
to study overseas. We can perceive this as she never did raise any objection
when Aloo started corresponding with foreign universities to obtain
prospectuses and entry forms. We know she was a responsible mother who cares
for the future of her children. As such, she was not insensitive to Aloo’s
needs. In fact, she was sensible. She was aware of his ambitions and his
dreams.
She
had made sacrifices before, why not one more? Though careful, she sought
assurance. So, she went to see Mr. Velji, a learned education officer whom she respected.
They discussed on the matter at hand-Aloo’s scholastic performance, the course
in medicine and the scholarship. When
the advice given was supportive that Aloo go to America to study; the mother,
despite being conflicted by the sense of potential separation and loneliness,
accepted the advice as profitable and was willing to forego her selfish fears such
as loneliness, cultural issues and possibly, religious apprehensions.
In
ending, we can say the relationship of the two main characters, which underwent
a reassessment of their values and priorities through an intense emotional challenge,
gained better footing as it matures to a new level of sacrifice, love and understanding.
Allowing Aloo to go to America was the mother’s ultimate sacrifice. For both
mother and son, it was to be an ideal win-win situation.
