Sentry Page Protection
highway in the sun
PAGES 11-14
START POINT: “TIGER enters the shop. He has been working in his garden. RITA wheels as she sees him.” (Selvon, p.11).
SETTING
- A shop in the village of Barataria, Trinidad.
- During World War 2.
SUMMARY
Pages 11-14: Tiger enters and asks Rita what the fuss is about. She continues the argument by saying that Tiger is a hard worker and Sookdeo is not, so Sookdeo’s garden must be full of rabbit-grass and mary-shut-your-gate. Tiger counters her argument by stating that Sookdeo’s garden is the best in the village. Tiger asks her to have a drink with him, and she declines, leaving him with the thought that he should not allow himself to be influenced by Sookdeo, especially about becoming educated. Sookdeo teasingly asks Rita if she wants him to read the newspaper to her and tell her all about the news of the war. Rita declines, stating that she doesn’t want to know about the evil war in England and Germany, then she leaves. Sookdeo tells Tiger that he is late, and Tiger tells him that he had to do some hoeing. Sookdeo then states that he was thirsty and Tall Boy would not give him credit to purchase a drink.
Tiger, in his best standard English, then explains to Tall Boy that Mr. Sookdeo should be given everything he wants. Sookdeo emotionally asks Tiger to repeat the part where he calls him Mr. and orders them a drink because Tiger will be very successful. The audience then learns that he does not have an account in order to get credit, so Sookdeo asks Tiger to open one for him. Tall Boy says that he prefers house or land as guarantee, but Sookdeo objects to being forced to give security to a Chinese foreigner, when he, Sookdeo, is born and bred in Trinidad. Tall Boy deposits the drinks on the counter, saying that Sookdeo is lucky that Tiger is paying. Sookdeo is offended and clearly states, in the queen’s best English, that he has money, unbeknownst to the people of Barataria. Tiger asks for an update on the news, and Sookdeo states that Germany is winning. Tiger then says that he has a feeling that something is going to happen, and Sookdeo corrects him and tells him that he means to say that he has a premonition. Tall Boy says that big things only happen in England and America. Sookdeo says that he should give Trinidad more credit because, one, Tall Boy is making a lot of money, which he sends back to China from Trinidadians; two, Trinidad has oil, which ships from all over the world collect; and three, Americans are putting up bases all over the Caribbean, Trinidad included.
Tall Boy then clarifies that all this has nothing to do with Barataria because everyone is going about their business as usual, despite the rationing of salt fish and rice. He concludes his argument with the statement that the war could end and they wouldn’t even know. At this point, they hear the bicycle bell ringing and the postman brings a notice for Tall Boy to place on his shop door. Tiger states that if it is an advertisement, he is charging the government for it, but Sookdeo reads and finds out that it is news that a highway will be built through the estate property of Barataria and people will be compensated. Tiger is perturbed by this news because he wonders about what will happen to all the people in the village. Sookdeo then states that he will not sell his land to the Americans, and Tiger says that he will not sell either. Sookdeo then instructs Tiger to go to the estate office in San Juan and get more information. Tiger agrees to do the task and, in turn, instructs Tall Boy to put up the notice for all the villagers to see.
Pages 11-14: Tiger enters and asks Rita what the fuss is about. She continues the argument by saying that Tiger is a hard worker and Sookdeo is not, so Sookdeo’s garden must be full of rabbit-grass and mary-shut-your-gate. Tiger counters her argument by stating that Sookdeo’s garden is the best in the village. Tiger asks her to have a drink with him, and she declines, leaving him with the thought that he should not allow himself to be influenced by Sookdeo, especially about becoming educated. Sookdeo teasingly asks Rita if she wants him to read the newspaper to her and tell her all about the news of the war. Rita declines, stating that she doesn’t want to know about the evil war in England and Germany, then she leaves. Sookdeo tells Tiger that he is late, and Tiger tells him that he had to do some hoeing. Sookdeo then states that he was thirsty and Tall Boy would not give him credit to purchase a drink.
Tiger, in his best standard English, then explains to Tall Boy that Mr. Sookdeo should be given everything he wants. Sookdeo emotionally asks Tiger to repeat the part where he calls him Mr. and orders them a drink because Tiger will be very successful. The audience then learns that he does not have an account in order to get credit, so Sookdeo asks Tiger to open one for him. Tall Boy says that he prefers house or land as guarantee, but Sookdeo objects to being forced to give security to a Chinese foreigner, when he, Sookdeo, is born and bred in Trinidad. Tall Boy deposits the drinks on the counter, saying that Sookdeo is lucky that Tiger is paying. Sookdeo is offended and clearly states, in the queen’s best English, that he has money, unbeknownst to the people of Barataria. Tiger asks for an update on the news, and Sookdeo states that Germany is winning. Tiger then says that he has a feeling that something is going to happen, and Sookdeo corrects him and tells him that he means to say that he has a premonition. Tall Boy says that big things only happen in England and America. Sookdeo says that he should give Trinidad more credit because, one, Tall Boy is making a lot of money, which he sends back to China from Trinidadians; two, Trinidad has oil, which ships from all over the world collect; and three, Americans are putting up bases all over the Caribbean, Trinidad included.
Tall Boy then clarifies that all this has nothing to do with Barataria because everyone is going about their business as usual, despite the rationing of salt fish and rice. He concludes his argument with the statement that the war could end and they wouldn’t even know. At this point, they hear the bicycle bell ringing and the postman brings a notice for Tall Boy to place on his shop door. Tiger states that if it is an advertisement, he is charging the government for it, but Sookdeo reads and finds out that it is news that a highway will be built through the estate property of Barataria and people will be compensated. Tiger is perturbed by this news because he wonders about what will happen to all the people in the village. Sookdeo then states that he will not sell his land to the Americans, and Tiger says that he will not sell either. Sookdeo then instructs Tiger to go to the estate office in San Juan and get more information. Tiger agrees to do the task and, in turn, instructs Tall Boy to put up the notice for all the villagers to see.
QUESTIONS
- What were Rita and Tiger arguing about?
- How did Tiger disprove Rita’s impression that Sookdeo was lazy?
- What was Rita’s instruction to Tiger regarding his association with Sookdeo?
- What did Tiger do to make Sookdeo emotional?
- List three reasons, according to Sookdeo, that Trinidad should be respected by Tall Boy.
- What did Tall Boy plan to do if the government had sent him an advertisement?
- Summarize the information that is on the notice that the postman brought.
- Why was Tiger perturbed at the news?
- What did Sookdeo instruct Tiger to do?
- What did Tiger instruct Tall Boy to do?
CHARACTERIZATION
Sookdeo
Sookdeo is patriotic. His allegiance to Trinidad is highlighted when he defends his island home to Tall Boy. He states that Tall Boy should have respect for Trinidad because he is making a lot of money, which he sends back to China, from Trinidadians. He clarifies that Trinidad has oil, which ships from all over the world collect, and that the Americans are putting up bases all over the Caribbean, Trinidad included. So, Sookdeo sees value in his country and refuses to see Tall Boy discredit it.
Tiger
Tiger is empathetic. His empathetic nature is seen in his reaction to the news of the highway that will be built through the estate property of Barataria. His first thought is for the residents of Barataria; he wonders what they will do before he even thinks about how this change will affect him. It is this empathetic quality that allows him to agree to go to the estate office in San Juan and get more information. He is doing it not just for himself, but for the residents of Barataria. Before he leaves, he deliberately asks Tall Boy to ensure that he posts the notice; this is to ensure that all the residents are aware of what the government has done. This too shows concern for the residents of Barataria.
Tall Boy
Tall Boy is an opportunist. He has not embraced Trinidad as his home because he sees Barataria as a backwater town. This is seen in his conversation with Sookdeo when he clarifies that the war has nothing to do with Barataria because everyone is going about their business as usual, despite the rationing of salt fish and rice. He is saying that the people are ignorant, which allows them to tolerate the effects of the war. He concludes his argument with the statement that the war could end and the residents wouldn’t even know. He is saying that the town is obsolete, based on the residents' ignorance. So, he is not seeing Trinidad as a whole, as being useful and important to the war effort; he is, instead, isolating Barataria as useless. If he had any allegiance to the town and its people, he could not view them in this light. He is there, as Sookdeo rightly says, to get money from the residents of Barataria and send it back to China.
Rita
Rita is ignorant. Rita is not only ignorant, but willfully ignorant. She has decided that she does not want to understand what is happening in the world around her: “I don’t want to know about no evil war in England and Germany.” (Selvon, 11), she is preoccupied with feeding her husband because she goes to great lengths to procure his food: “I got to feed that hefty husband of mine.” (Selvon, 10). The fact that Rita does not value any form of education is seen in her final words to Tiger before she leaves the shop: “You better don’t let that old scamp encourage you … and all this thing about learning education …” (Selvon, 11).
Sookdeo is patriotic. His allegiance to Trinidad is highlighted when he defends his island home to Tall Boy. He states that Tall Boy should have respect for Trinidad because he is making a lot of money, which he sends back to China, from Trinidadians. He clarifies that Trinidad has oil, which ships from all over the world collect, and that the Americans are putting up bases all over the Caribbean, Trinidad included. So, Sookdeo sees value in his country and refuses to see Tall Boy discredit it.
Tiger
Tiger is empathetic. His empathetic nature is seen in his reaction to the news of the highway that will be built through the estate property of Barataria. His first thought is for the residents of Barataria; he wonders what they will do before he even thinks about how this change will affect him. It is this empathetic quality that allows him to agree to go to the estate office in San Juan and get more information. He is doing it not just for himself, but for the residents of Barataria. Before he leaves, he deliberately asks Tall Boy to ensure that he posts the notice; this is to ensure that all the residents are aware of what the government has done. This too shows concern for the residents of Barataria.
Tall Boy
Tall Boy is an opportunist. He has not embraced Trinidad as his home because he sees Barataria as a backwater town. This is seen in his conversation with Sookdeo when he clarifies that the war has nothing to do with Barataria because everyone is going about their business as usual, despite the rationing of salt fish and rice. He is saying that the people are ignorant, which allows them to tolerate the effects of the war. He concludes his argument with the statement that the war could end and the residents wouldn’t even know. He is saying that the town is obsolete, based on the residents' ignorance. So, he is not seeing Trinidad as a whole, as being useful and important to the war effort; he is, instead, isolating Barataria as useless. If he had any allegiance to the town and its people, he could not view them in this light. He is there, as Sookdeo rightly says, to get money from the residents of Barataria and send it back to China.
Rita
Rita is ignorant. Rita is not only ignorant, but willfully ignorant. She has decided that she does not want to understand what is happening in the world around her: “I don’t want to know about no evil war in England and Germany.” (Selvon, 11), she is preoccupied with feeding her husband because she goes to great lengths to procure his food: “I got to feed that hefty husband of mine.” (Selvon, 10). The fact that Rita does not value any form of education is seen in her final words to Tiger before she leaves the shop: “You better don’t let that old scamp encourage you … and all this thing about learning education …” (Selvon, 11).
TECHNIQUE
Irony
It is ironic that Tall Boy views Barataria as a backwater town, yet is willing to exploit it for his financial gain. This exploitation is seen in the method that he uses to ensure that his products sell in a town that he sees as valueless. This method includes making some customers feel special by ‘holding’ items for them, but turning around and selling them because the end goal was to sell the product, not to create meaningful relationships with the residents of Barataria, and in turn investing in a country that you value.
It is ironic that Tall Boy views Barataria as a backwater town, yet is willing to exploit it for his financial gain. This exploitation is seen in the method that he uses to ensure that his products sell in a town that he sees as valueless. This method includes making some customers feel special by ‘holding’ items for them, but turning around and selling them because the end goal was to sell the product, not to create meaningful relationships with the residents of Barataria, and in turn investing in a country that you value.
CONFLICT
The conflict is man versus man. Rita was arguing with Sookdeo about his laziness, and Sookdeo was arguing with Tall Boy about the fact that he does not see any value in Trinidad.
THEME
Patriotism
The theme of patriotism is seen in Sookdeo’s ardent defense of Trinidad when Tall Boy belittled it. Tall Boy said: “Nobody don’t bother with this little island.” (Selvon, 13), then Sookdeo educates him about Trinidad being used by the Americans as a base and the fact that ships come from all over the world to Trinidad for oil.
The theme of patriotism is seen in Sookdeo’s ardent defense of Trinidad when Tall Boy belittled it. Tall Boy said: “Nobody don’t bother with this little island.” (Selvon, 13), then Sookdeo educates him about Trinidad being used by the Americans as a base and the fact that ships come from all over the world to Trinidad for oil.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Seovon, S. Highway in the Sun. Peepal Tree Press, Great Britain, 1991.
Seovon, S. Highway in the Sun. Peepal Tree Press, Great Britain, 1991.
