Sentry Page Protection
highway in the sun:
PAGES 14-21
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Characters
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pg. 9-11
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pg. 11-14
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pg. 14-21
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pg. 22-28
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pg. 28-34
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pg. 34-41
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pg. 41-47
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pg. 47-57
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START POINT: “It is late in the morning. RITA is scrubbing clothes over a tub in her yard, humming a tune as she works … URMILLA comes in carrying a pail from her milk round. She is shy and soft-spoken.” (Selvon, 14).
SETTING
- Rita’s yard.
- Tall Boy’s shop.
- Joe and Rota’s house, in the gallery.
- Tiger and Urmilla’s hut.
SUMMARY
Pages 14-21: Urmilla stops by Rita’s fence to have a chat. She reports that she sold all the milk and that she felt the baby kick, even though Tiger did not. She says that Tiger wants a boy and Rita tells her that no bush tea can secure that desire; they just have to wait. Urmilla divulges that Tiger has changed because he is only using big words now and she cannot understand him. Rita pacifies Urmilla with the idea that Tiger will change back to himself when the baby is born. Rita then volunteers to wash for Urmilla, and she thanks her profusely, then gives her one of Joe’s trousers for Tiger to wear while working in the garden. The villagers gather at Tall Boy’s shop and discuss the threat of losing their land to the road. Tiger tries to moderate the meeting, but they don’t respect him, calling him ‘force ripe’ (Selvon, 16), and Boysie, Tiger’s friend, just wants to find out about the compensation. The villagers bring up their grievance that Sookdeo is not affected by the impending road, and Tiger clarifies that Sookdeo’s plot of land is safe because the road will not pass through it.
Tiger then points out that they must take the matter of the road seriously because if they have no land, they cannot work and earn, and they cannot live off the compensation money forever. Boysie counters Tiger’s argument by revealing his plan to get a job building the road, saving the money, then going to the United States. The crowd agrees with his sentiment that it is every man for himself. Tall Boy even starts making plans to get another ice box and stock up on more drinks for the impending workers, at Boysie’s suggestion. Boysie believes that a man cannot be successful in Trinidad, with the dollar being one US dollar to two Trinidadian dollars, so he plans to migrate to America, instead of, as suggested by Tiger, marrying and educating himself and his future children. Boysie declares that the gardening work that he does is part-time; he has another job where he drives a taxi for his brother. He warns Tiger that he should try not to become like Sookdeo. Tiger then asks Sookdeo if he has ever been to town, and Sookdeo’s response is to ask what for. Boysie uses this response as evidence of Sookdeo’s stagnation. He says that Sookdeo would not consider leaving the village to go the five miles to Port of Spain; he summarizes Sookdeo’s life in terms of a wife who died, children who left him, and rum to keep him in his old age.
Boysie declares that the road coming to Basataria is the best thing that could happen to him because he now has the opportunity to earn lots of money, like the ‘fellars’ who work with the Yanks on the bases. Sookdeo interrupts him with the thought that money is not the only thing that matters. Boysie’s response is to sarcastically comment that this philosophy must be the reason why Sookdeo is bumming drinks. Tiger then buys a round of drinks and leaves to speak to Joe, then Tall Boy warns that it is past eight o’clock.
Joe and Tiger talk in the gallery of Joe and Rita’s house. Joe asks about the meeting, which Tiger clarifies was more of a talking and drinking session. Tiger tells Joe that the decision was that every man would look out for himself. Joe asks Tiger if he intends to work for the Americans, and he says that he might have to do that because no one cares, as long as they have food to eat, rum to drink, and a place to sleep. Joe tells him to look about himself, and Tiger says that he is doing that, especially when he recalls that his father was illiterate, because he has ambition. He is frustrated because the residents of Basataria don’t know that they are fighting a war. Joe and Tiger are then interrupted by Rita, who calls Tiger from her position in the backyard with Urmilla to feel the baby move. Tiger excitedly runs off with Joe asking if he can feel the baby move as well.
Tiger is amazed at the baby’s movement in Urmilla’s womb, but earns a stern reprimand from Rita for his insistence that the baby is a boy and that he is born on the full moon. She says that Urmilla is not a machine that can ensure that the baby is a boy, but he might get his full moon wish because she thinks the baby might be born within the week and a full moon is predicted within the week. She tells Urmilla to rest and assures her that she will help with the delivery, then leaves. Urmilla then asks about the result of the meeting because she is worried about the loss of the income from their garden. Tiger tells her that it was a wasted effort because the people of Barataria are foolish. He then brusquely tells her to get his dinner, but uses the term banquet, a word that she does not understand. This leads to further frustration on Tiger’s part because his meal is not English; it is bhagi and roti. In the middle of his frustrated rant, Urmilla tries to tell him all that she has done for him that day, but he is too frustrated to hear her. Two nights later, Urmilla, in the throes of labour, urgently wakes Tiger, who tells her that she needs to keep the baby in the womb until the full moon, then goes to get Rita.
Rita sends Tiger to light the fire and heat some water, then instructs him to stay with Joe, out of the way. Joe grumpily joins Tiger, saying that he has work the next day. Tiger anxiously asks Joe if Rita knows what she’s doing, and he sarcastically informs him that he’s late with his inquiry, but assures him that his wife is in capable hands. Tiger asks Joe why he and Rita don’t have children, and he says maybe after the ear. The men discuss a bright moon as a good sign, until Rita sends Tiger to get a doctor because the labour has become complicated. She suggests that Tiger get Boysie to drive him in the taxi to get a doctor.
Pages 14-21: Urmilla stops by Rita’s fence to have a chat. She reports that she sold all the milk and that she felt the baby kick, even though Tiger did not. She says that Tiger wants a boy and Rita tells her that no bush tea can secure that desire; they just have to wait. Urmilla divulges that Tiger has changed because he is only using big words now and she cannot understand him. Rita pacifies Urmilla with the idea that Tiger will change back to himself when the baby is born. Rita then volunteers to wash for Urmilla, and she thanks her profusely, then gives her one of Joe’s trousers for Tiger to wear while working in the garden. The villagers gather at Tall Boy’s shop and discuss the threat of losing their land to the road. Tiger tries to moderate the meeting, but they don’t respect him, calling him ‘force ripe’ (Selvon, 16), and Boysie, Tiger’s friend, just wants to find out about the compensation. The villagers bring up their grievance that Sookdeo is not affected by the impending road, and Tiger clarifies that Sookdeo’s plot of land is safe because the road will not pass through it.
Tiger then points out that they must take the matter of the road seriously because if they have no land, they cannot work and earn, and they cannot live off the compensation money forever. Boysie counters Tiger’s argument by revealing his plan to get a job building the road, saving the money, then going to the United States. The crowd agrees with his sentiment that it is every man for himself. Tall Boy even starts making plans to get another ice box and stock up on more drinks for the impending workers, at Boysie’s suggestion. Boysie believes that a man cannot be successful in Trinidad, with the dollar being one US dollar to two Trinidadian dollars, so he plans to migrate to America, instead of, as suggested by Tiger, marrying and educating himself and his future children. Boysie declares that the gardening work that he does is part-time; he has another job where he drives a taxi for his brother. He warns Tiger that he should try not to become like Sookdeo. Tiger then asks Sookdeo if he has ever been to town, and Sookdeo’s response is to ask what for. Boysie uses this response as evidence of Sookdeo’s stagnation. He says that Sookdeo would not consider leaving the village to go the five miles to Port of Spain; he summarizes Sookdeo’s life in terms of a wife who died, children who left him, and rum to keep him in his old age.
Boysie declares that the road coming to Basataria is the best thing that could happen to him because he now has the opportunity to earn lots of money, like the ‘fellars’ who work with the Yanks on the bases. Sookdeo interrupts him with the thought that money is not the only thing that matters. Boysie’s response is to sarcastically comment that this philosophy must be the reason why Sookdeo is bumming drinks. Tiger then buys a round of drinks and leaves to speak to Joe, then Tall Boy warns that it is past eight o’clock.
Joe and Tiger talk in the gallery of Joe and Rita’s house. Joe asks about the meeting, which Tiger clarifies was more of a talking and drinking session. Tiger tells Joe that the decision was that every man would look out for himself. Joe asks Tiger if he intends to work for the Americans, and he says that he might have to do that because no one cares, as long as they have food to eat, rum to drink, and a place to sleep. Joe tells him to look about himself, and Tiger says that he is doing that, especially when he recalls that his father was illiterate, because he has ambition. He is frustrated because the residents of Basataria don’t know that they are fighting a war. Joe and Tiger are then interrupted by Rita, who calls Tiger from her position in the backyard with Urmilla to feel the baby move. Tiger excitedly runs off with Joe asking if he can feel the baby move as well.
Tiger is amazed at the baby’s movement in Urmilla’s womb, but earns a stern reprimand from Rita for his insistence that the baby is a boy and that he is born on the full moon. She says that Urmilla is not a machine that can ensure that the baby is a boy, but he might get his full moon wish because she thinks the baby might be born within the week and a full moon is predicted within the week. She tells Urmilla to rest and assures her that she will help with the delivery, then leaves. Urmilla then asks about the result of the meeting because she is worried about the loss of the income from their garden. Tiger tells her that it was a wasted effort because the people of Barataria are foolish. He then brusquely tells her to get his dinner, but uses the term banquet, a word that she does not understand. This leads to further frustration on Tiger’s part because his meal is not English; it is bhagi and roti. In the middle of his frustrated rant, Urmilla tries to tell him all that she has done for him that day, but he is too frustrated to hear her. Two nights later, Urmilla, in the throes of labour, urgently wakes Tiger, who tells her that she needs to keep the baby in the womb until the full moon, then goes to get Rita.
Rita sends Tiger to light the fire and heat some water, then instructs him to stay with Joe, out of the way. Joe grumpily joins Tiger, saying that he has work the next day. Tiger anxiously asks Joe if Rita knows what she’s doing, and he sarcastically informs him that he’s late with his inquiry, but assures him that his wife is in capable hands. Tiger asks Joe why he and Rita don’t have children, and he says maybe after the ear. The men discuss a bright moon as a good sign, until Rita sends Tiger to get a doctor because the labour has become complicated. She suggests that Tiger get Boysie to drive him in the taxi to get a doctor.
QUESTIONS
- What does Tiger want the sex of his baby to be?
- What change does Urmilla observe in Tiger?
- What two acts of kindness does Rita do in an effort to cheer up Urmilla?
- Why is Sookdeo unaffected by the impending road?
- What is Tiger’s concern about the impending road?
- What is Boysie’s view about the impending road?
- What consensus was reached at the end of the meeting?
- What are Boysie’s two jobs?
- What are Boysie’s plans, in relation to the road?
- Why does Boysie believe that people cannot be successful in Trinidad?
- Give evidence to show that Boysie does not respect Sookdeo.
- What decision does Tiger reach about the road and why? What does Joe advise Tiger to do?
- What information does the reader obtain about Tiger’s father? How has this information impacted Tiger?
- Why does Rita interrupt Joe and Tiger’s conversation?
- According to Rita, what desire of Tiger’s is possible and what desire is out of Urmilla’s control?
- What are two reasons, based on Tiger’s interaction with Urmilla, that Tiger is irritated?
- What two tasks does Rita give Tiger to help with the delivery?
- Who does Rita tell Tiger to fetch? Why?
CHARACTERIZATION
Tiger
Tiger is ambitious. A mark of his ambitious nature is found in Tiger’s intention of becoming educated, unlike his father, who was illiterate. We get hints at this preoccupation with the use of formal English Language in places such as Tall Boy’s shop, which makes him stand out because no one else speaks like that, and some people, for example his wife, cannot understand him. Instead of asking for a meal, he asks Urmilla to set out the ‘banquet’, which confuses her and irritates him for the same reason; she does not understand him. Tiger sees education as a way out of ignorance, which is why he has employed Sookdeo, the town’s educated drunk, to tutor him. His preoccupation with becoming literate and speaking well highlights his ambitious nature.
Tiger, however, is also ignorant. His ignorance, or lack of knowledge, is seen in the fact that he insists that his wife must produce a son and he must be born on the full moon. Rita explains that she cannot control these things, but he bullishly and willfully ignores Rita and still insists that his wife does these things, producing a boy child on the full moon. This ignorance is balanced by a deliberate nature, however, which implies that, despite his blatant ignorance surrounding Urmilla’s pregnancy, he is intelligent. This intelligence is seen in his swift identification of the danger that the road poses to Barataria. He is distressed that the villagers do not see that they are at war to maintain their way of life and their livelihoods. He is concerned that all that they can see is the short-term money that they can earn.
Boysie
Boysie is Tiger’s friend and foil who is ambitious. His views on the building of the highway through Barataria are that it is good. It will allow him to earn more money so that he can achieve his life’s ambition: to migrate to America. This ambition and, by extension, focus is seen in the fact that he has two jobs: gardener and taxi driver, just to fuel his goal of leaving Trinidad and going to America. He sees no value in Trinidad, which makes him unpatriotic. He uses the fact that the Trinidadian dollar is worth two dollars for every one US dollar to declare that the country is going nowhere and he must leave. Lastly, Boysie is intelligent. His intelligence is seen in how he observes the people around him and learns lessons that will fuel his desire to migrate to America. For example, he analyzes Sookdeo and has decided that he will not be like him. He sees a man who has not even travelled outside of Barataria to the capital city, and concludes that this is a person who has not lived. His observations of Sookdeo have taught him that in order to be successful, one must have real experiences outside of their village and earn money. Finally, he thinks ahead and sees how Tall Boy can gain from the American presence in Barataria by suggesting that Tall Boy get a frigidaire, to have ample cold drinks available.
Rita
Rita is kind. She takes care of Urmilla by gifting her a pair of Jo’s pants and promises Urmilla that she will help to deliver her baby. This spirit of kindness and communal living is what Tiger tries to maintain. He tries to warn everyone that they are in a fight, and this is the fight: to maintain the communal living that characterizes small towns like Barataria. Chasing money, as Boysie does, endangers this lifestyle of sharing and giving of self, and the road is Boysie and the other villagers’ tool of destruction.
Joe
Joe is Rita’s husband and he, like his wife, represents communal living through his kindness to Tiger. Joe is kind because he mentors his younger neighbour, listens to him, and gives him tangible advice. This is seen when he listens to Tiger talk about his dream of becoming educated and agrees with his decision to possibly take a job with the Americans when they start constructing the road. Yes, he is grumpy, but he keeps Tiger company during Urmilla’s labour as well. Like his wife, Rita, he also represents the sense of community that Tiger is trying to maintain.
Tiger is ambitious. A mark of his ambitious nature is found in Tiger’s intention of becoming educated, unlike his father, who was illiterate. We get hints at this preoccupation with the use of formal English Language in places such as Tall Boy’s shop, which makes him stand out because no one else speaks like that, and some people, for example his wife, cannot understand him. Instead of asking for a meal, he asks Urmilla to set out the ‘banquet’, which confuses her and irritates him for the same reason; she does not understand him. Tiger sees education as a way out of ignorance, which is why he has employed Sookdeo, the town’s educated drunk, to tutor him. His preoccupation with becoming literate and speaking well highlights his ambitious nature.
Tiger, however, is also ignorant. His ignorance, or lack of knowledge, is seen in the fact that he insists that his wife must produce a son and he must be born on the full moon. Rita explains that she cannot control these things, but he bullishly and willfully ignores Rita and still insists that his wife does these things, producing a boy child on the full moon. This ignorance is balanced by a deliberate nature, however, which implies that, despite his blatant ignorance surrounding Urmilla’s pregnancy, he is intelligent. This intelligence is seen in his swift identification of the danger that the road poses to Barataria. He is distressed that the villagers do not see that they are at war to maintain their way of life and their livelihoods. He is concerned that all that they can see is the short-term money that they can earn.
Boysie
Boysie is Tiger’s friend and foil who is ambitious. His views on the building of the highway through Barataria are that it is good. It will allow him to earn more money so that he can achieve his life’s ambition: to migrate to America. This ambition and, by extension, focus is seen in the fact that he has two jobs: gardener and taxi driver, just to fuel his goal of leaving Trinidad and going to America. He sees no value in Trinidad, which makes him unpatriotic. He uses the fact that the Trinidadian dollar is worth two dollars for every one US dollar to declare that the country is going nowhere and he must leave. Lastly, Boysie is intelligent. His intelligence is seen in how he observes the people around him and learns lessons that will fuel his desire to migrate to America. For example, he analyzes Sookdeo and has decided that he will not be like him. He sees a man who has not even travelled outside of Barataria to the capital city, and concludes that this is a person who has not lived. His observations of Sookdeo have taught him that in order to be successful, one must have real experiences outside of their village and earn money. Finally, he thinks ahead and sees how Tall Boy can gain from the American presence in Barataria by suggesting that Tall Boy get a frigidaire, to have ample cold drinks available.
Rita
Rita is kind. She takes care of Urmilla by gifting her a pair of Jo’s pants and promises Urmilla that she will help to deliver her baby. This spirit of kindness and communal living is what Tiger tries to maintain. He tries to warn everyone that they are in a fight, and this is the fight: to maintain the communal living that characterizes small towns like Barataria. Chasing money, as Boysie does, endangers this lifestyle of sharing and giving of self, and the road is Boysie and the other villagers’ tool of destruction.
Joe
Joe is Rita’s husband and he, like his wife, represents communal living through his kindness to Tiger. Joe is kind because he mentors his younger neighbour, listens to him, and gives him tangible advice. This is seen when he listens to Tiger talk about his dream of becoming educated and agrees with his decision to possibly take a job with the Americans when they start constructing the road. Yes, he is grumpy, but he keeps Tiger company during Urmilla’s labour as well. Like his wife, Rita, he also represents the sense of community that Tiger is trying to maintain.
TECHNIQUE
Symbolism
Rita and Joe are symbols of communal living. Their simple acts of kindness, given freely and naturally, represent small-town communal living that is under threat from the impending highway that is to be built through the village of Barataria. Just like the highway literally cutting through the village and destroying people’s property and livelihoods, this highway will bring progress in the form of individuality. This individuality is already invading the communal space because the villagers have decided that it is every man for himself. This decision was fueled by Boysie, who represents individualism. Boysie is all about financial success, as seen in his disdain for Sookdeo, who utters that money isn’t everything. Boysie believes that money is everything, and his pursuit of it, to further his dream of migrating to America, facilitates him representing a character that is steeped in individual living and achieving individual goals at the detriment of the community ideal.
Irony
It is ironic that Tiger is determined to become literate, yet he refuses to educate himself about his wife’s powerlessness to control the sex of their child and the date of his birth. So, Tiger literally goes around using big words and forming formal sentences in situations that do not require the effort, yet refuses to understand that his wife cannot ensure that their baby is a boy or born on a full moon. It is also ironic that Tiger and Boysie are friends, despite being so different. Boysie has a dream of making money, leaving Trinidad, and going to America, while Tiger is invested in creating and maintaining his family in Barataria and lifting himself and his children out of illiteracy. They are very different people with contrasting goals who still manage to remain friends.
Juxtaposition
Boysie and Tiger are contrasting in their value systems. Boysie believes in progress, exploring beyond the borders of Barataria and even Trinidad. He believes in earning money and pursuing a dream with that money. Tiger is the opposite. He believes in family, education, and community.
Rita and Joe are symbols of communal living. Their simple acts of kindness, given freely and naturally, represent small-town communal living that is under threat from the impending highway that is to be built through the village of Barataria. Just like the highway literally cutting through the village and destroying people’s property and livelihoods, this highway will bring progress in the form of individuality. This individuality is already invading the communal space because the villagers have decided that it is every man for himself. This decision was fueled by Boysie, who represents individualism. Boysie is all about financial success, as seen in his disdain for Sookdeo, who utters that money isn’t everything. Boysie believes that money is everything, and his pursuit of it, to further his dream of migrating to America, facilitates him representing a character that is steeped in individual living and achieving individual goals at the detriment of the community ideal.
Irony
It is ironic that Tiger is determined to become literate, yet he refuses to educate himself about his wife’s powerlessness to control the sex of their child and the date of his birth. So, Tiger literally goes around using big words and forming formal sentences in situations that do not require the effort, yet refuses to understand that his wife cannot ensure that their baby is a boy or born on a full moon. It is also ironic that Tiger and Boysie are friends, despite being so different. Boysie has a dream of making money, leaving Trinidad, and going to America, while Tiger is invested in creating and maintaining his family in Barataria and lifting himself and his children out of illiteracy. They are very different people with contrasting goals who still manage to remain friends.
Juxtaposition
Boysie and Tiger are contrasting in their value systems. Boysie believes in progress, exploring beyond the borders of Barataria and even Trinidad. He believes in earning money and pursuing a dream with that money. Tiger is the opposite. He believes in family, education, and community.
CONFLICT
The conflict is man versus man. The Americans wanted to build a road through Barataria and were granted permission to do so. Therefore, the people of Barataria’s livelihoods are being threatened. On a micro level, there is also conflict between Tiger and the villagers because he and Sookdeo, who ironically is unaffected because the road will bypass his land, are the only villagers that have a problem with this new development.
THEME
Change
Change is seen because the people of Barataria were peacefully living their lives until the notice went up on the door of Tall Boy’s shop. This notice informed them that a road would be cut through their village and they would be compensated for their land. This will mean an upheaval of people’s lives because their homes and livelihoods will be affected adversely; things will not be the same. Of course, there are opposing reactions to this impending change; some of the villagers, along with Boysie and Tall Boy, are willing to embrace this change because it means that they could get work on top of being compensated for their land and, in Tall Boy’s case, more sales of cold drinks for the workers, but Tiger sees destruction to his educational and family plans.
Change is seen because the people of Barataria were peacefully living their lives until the notice went up on the door of Tall Boy’s shop. This notice informed them that a road would be cut through their village and they would be compensated for their land. This will mean an upheaval of people’s lives because their homes and livelihoods will be affected adversely; things will not be the same. Of course, there are opposing reactions to this impending change; some of the villagers, along with Boysie and Tall Boy, are willing to embrace this change because it means that they could get work on top of being compensated for their land and, in Tall Boy’s case, more sales of cold drinks for the workers, but Tiger sees destruction to his educational and family plans.
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.
|
Characters
|
pg. 9-11
|
pg. 11-14
|
pg. 14-21
|
pg. 22-28
|
pg. 28-34
|
pg. 34-41
|
pg. 41-47
|
pg. 47-57
|
