Sentry Page Protection
highway in the sun:
PAGES 28-34
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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: “Later that night at TIGER’S hut. The party is in full swing. A drunken hubbub of eating and drinking. BOYSIE, TIGER and SOOKDEO are talking.” (Selvon, 28).
SETTING
- Urmilla and Tiger’s hut.
SUMMARY
Pages 28-34: Tiger asks Boysie the amount of compensation money that he received, and he said that he received enough to leave Trinidad when the war is over. Sookdeo advises Boysie to use the money to buy a taxi because they will be left with nothing after the road construction. Boysie expresses disappointment that Tiger cannot travel with him to places like New York and London because he has a wife and child now. Sookdeo says that a man must make do with what he has, and Tiger says that he does not like Trinidad. Rita passes by and states that this has been Tiger’s state ever since his encounter with the doctors. Sookdeo then tells her that men are talking; she should not be involved in the discussion. An argument then starts with Rita asking Sookdeo what present he brought because Boysie bought a rattle and Tall Boy dismissed Tiger’s debt, with Sookdeo responding, essentially, that he brought nothing.
Rita then goes on a rampage, expressing that big talk cannot fill a belly, that Sookdeo is educating Tiger and Boysie is filling his head with America and England. Tiger had to quell the argument, giving Joe the opportunity to make the suggestion that Tiger build a proper house, but Boysie indicated that Tiger has the same desire as him, to leave Trinidad. Rita then insists that Urmilla is the one to ask, but then Urmilla says that Tiger is the man, so he must decide. Tiger then interrupts everyone and says that there is no sense in making plans during wartime because they could all die tomorrow. They listen, but Sookdeo points out that Joe has a point, and Joe insists that one must plan for the future no matter what. Rita then clears the house because it was time to feed the baby.
Tiger and Urmilla then discuss the prospects of either building a home or leaving Trinidad. Tiger talks about his father’s unfulfilled dreams of owning a taxi and how people laughed at him because he never left the cane fields of Chaguanas. Urmilla then shared her dreams of wearing shoes, owning saris, living in a real house with chairs and a table and an ice box. Tiger tells her that her dreams are all materialistic; he asks her what she wants for herself. Urmilla does not know what he means. He tries to explain that he wants more, to know things, so he wants to be educated.
Urmilla then tells him that she tries to be a good wife and mother and points out that Sookdeo is educated, yet he is a drunkard who is laughed at. Tiger tells his wife that people have to decide to grow, or they stay stunted, and he does not want this for himself. Urmilla then explains that she gets afraid that she cannot understand the things that he talks about. She wants to understand, but if she tries, she won’t have time to do the daily chores of life: washing clothes, looking after the baby, and selling milk. Urmilla says that it’s good that they talk like this and tells him that she will always listen even if she doesn’t understand. Tiger ends the conversation by saying that everyone will be working on the road the following day.
Pages 28-34: Tiger asks Boysie the amount of compensation money that he received, and he said that he received enough to leave Trinidad when the war is over. Sookdeo advises Boysie to use the money to buy a taxi because they will be left with nothing after the road construction. Boysie expresses disappointment that Tiger cannot travel with him to places like New York and London because he has a wife and child now. Sookdeo says that a man must make do with what he has, and Tiger says that he does not like Trinidad. Rita passes by and states that this has been Tiger’s state ever since his encounter with the doctors. Sookdeo then tells her that men are talking; she should not be involved in the discussion. An argument then starts with Rita asking Sookdeo what present he brought because Boysie bought a rattle and Tall Boy dismissed Tiger’s debt, with Sookdeo responding, essentially, that he brought nothing.
Rita then goes on a rampage, expressing that big talk cannot fill a belly, that Sookdeo is educating Tiger and Boysie is filling his head with America and England. Tiger had to quell the argument, giving Joe the opportunity to make the suggestion that Tiger build a proper house, but Boysie indicated that Tiger has the same desire as him, to leave Trinidad. Rita then insists that Urmilla is the one to ask, but then Urmilla says that Tiger is the man, so he must decide. Tiger then interrupts everyone and says that there is no sense in making plans during wartime because they could all die tomorrow. They listen, but Sookdeo points out that Joe has a point, and Joe insists that one must plan for the future no matter what. Rita then clears the house because it was time to feed the baby.
Tiger and Urmilla then discuss the prospects of either building a home or leaving Trinidad. Tiger talks about his father’s unfulfilled dreams of owning a taxi and how people laughed at him because he never left the cane fields of Chaguanas. Urmilla then shared her dreams of wearing shoes, owning saris, living in a real house with chairs and a table and an ice box. Tiger tells her that her dreams are all materialistic; he asks her what she wants for herself. Urmilla does not know what he means. He tries to explain that he wants more, to know things, so he wants to be educated.
Urmilla then tells him that she tries to be a good wife and mother and points out that Sookdeo is educated, yet he is a drunkard who is laughed at. Tiger tells his wife that people have to decide to grow, or they stay stunted, and he does not want this for himself. Urmilla then explains that she gets afraid that she cannot understand the things that he talks about. She wants to understand, but if she tries, she won’t have time to do the daily chores of life: washing clothes, looking after the baby, and selling milk. Urmilla says that it’s good that they talk like this and tells him that she will always listen even if she doesn’t understand. Tiger ends the conversation by saying that everyone will be working on the road the following day.
QUESTIONS
- What does Boysie plan to do with his compensation money?
- What does Sookdeo advise Boysie to do with his compensation money?
- What is Boysie’s dream for him and his friend, Tiger, and what is hindering this dream?
- What sparks the argument between Rita and Sookdeo?
- How does Rita insult Sookdeo?
- What does Rita believe is the reason that Tiger no longer likes Trinidad?
- What does Joe suggest that Tiger should do with his compensation money?
- What is Tiger’s view on planning during wartime, and what is Joe’s alternate view?
- Summarize what Tiger and Urmilla discuss.
- How does Urmilla feel about her and Tiger’s discussion, and what does she tell him that she will always do?
CHARACTERIZATION
Urmilla
Urmilla is a submissive wife. She defers to her husband and does not offer opinions on their life. Rita asked her what she thought that she and her husband should do with the compensation money, and she said that it is up to Tiger.
Rita
Rita is a kind and forceful person. Her kindness is shown in her loaning the young couple a bed in order to preserve their dignity. Her forcefulness is seen in the fact that she makes the decision and executes it. Joe is not involved in the decision-making process; he is simply drafted into helping with the execution.
Joe
Joe is a good friend to Tiger. He offers good and unbiased advice about what should be done with his compensation money. He is also wise because his advice makes sense. He tells Tiger to build a house for his family. This is wise because they currently live in a hut with no furniture, and it is imperative that he tries to lift his family out of poverty.
Boysie
Boysie, overall, is a good friend to Tiger, but he can also be a selfish friend. His selfishness is seen in his stating, publicly, his dream for him and his friend to travel to America and London together, while highlighting that Tiger’s family is the problem. He does this in his friend’s house, with his friend’s wife and baby present, with the other villagers looking on. He is not considerate of the position that it places his friend in: take care of my family or go off with my friend to travel the world.
Sookdeo
Sookdeo is wise. He advises Boysie to buy a taxi because he is currently rich and does not know it, and agrees with Joe that one should always plan for the future, despite the circumstances.
Tall Boy
Tall Boy is a pragmatic person. His pragmatism is seen in his simple but effective and thoughtful gift to the baby. He cancels the parents’, Urmilla and Tiger, debt. His pragmatism is also seen in how he extricates himself from the argument about what Tiger should do with the compensation money. He cannot afford to offend any of his customers, so he gives a neutral non-answer: “It have pros and cons to any decision he has to make.” (Selvon, p.30).
Urmilla is a submissive wife. She defers to her husband and does not offer opinions on their life. Rita asked her what she thought that she and her husband should do with the compensation money, and she said that it is up to Tiger.
Rita
Rita is a kind and forceful person. Her kindness is shown in her loaning the young couple a bed in order to preserve their dignity. Her forcefulness is seen in the fact that she makes the decision and executes it. Joe is not involved in the decision-making process; he is simply drafted into helping with the execution.
Joe
Joe is a good friend to Tiger. He offers good and unbiased advice about what should be done with his compensation money. He is also wise because his advice makes sense. He tells Tiger to build a house for his family. This is wise because they currently live in a hut with no furniture, and it is imperative that he tries to lift his family out of poverty.
Boysie
Boysie, overall, is a good friend to Tiger, but he can also be a selfish friend. His selfishness is seen in his stating, publicly, his dream for him and his friend to travel to America and London together, while highlighting that Tiger’s family is the problem. He does this in his friend’s house, with his friend’s wife and baby present, with the other villagers looking on. He is not considerate of the position that it places his friend in: take care of my family or go off with my friend to travel the world.
Sookdeo
Sookdeo is wise. He advises Boysie to buy a taxi because he is currently rich and does not know it, and agrees with Joe that one should always plan for the future, despite the circumstances.
Tall Boy
Tall Boy is a pragmatic person. His pragmatism is seen in his simple but effective and thoughtful gift to the baby. He cancels the parents’, Urmilla and Tiger, debt. His pragmatism is also seen in how he extricates himself from the argument about what Tiger should do with the compensation money. He cannot afford to offend any of his customers, so he gives a neutral non-answer: “It have pros and cons to any decision he has to make.” (Selvon, p.30).
TECHNIQUE
Irony
Irony is seen when Tiger tells his wife that her dreams are materialistic, telling her, essentially, to tell him her ‘real dreams’: “Them is just material dreams, man. What you want for yourself?” His wife, also, cannot understand the education that he seeks for himself. It is ironic that both of them cannot understand each other, when that is what is supposed to happen in marriage.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is highlighted between Urmilla and Rita, and Urmilla and Tiger. Urmilla and Rita are contrasting in temperament because Rita, despite being an unpaid housewife, is very independent and has free rein in her household. This is seen when she loans their bed to their neighbours, and he simply assists her in setting it up. He was not offended at her decision-making without him, only annoyed that she keeps getting into people’s business. On the other hand, Urmilla is submissive towards her husband. When asked about her views on how her husband should spend his compensation money, she says that it is up to Tiger. We hear about her dreams and aspirations only when her husband asks her about it. Urmilla and Tiger are also contrasting characters. Urmilla is focused on satisfying her basic physical needs, such as living in a house and having furniture, while Tiger is focused on a ‘higher’ purpose, which is to ensure that he lifts his family out of educational poverty, starting with himself. He is not focused on the physical comforts, like his wife, which is why he has so much respect for Sookdeo, who is an impoverished scholar.
Irony is seen when Tiger tells his wife that her dreams are materialistic, telling her, essentially, to tell him her ‘real dreams’: “Them is just material dreams, man. What you want for yourself?” His wife, also, cannot understand the education that he seeks for himself. It is ironic that both of them cannot understand each other, when that is what is supposed to happen in marriage.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is highlighted between Urmilla and Rita, and Urmilla and Tiger. Urmilla and Rita are contrasting in temperament because Rita, despite being an unpaid housewife, is very independent and has free rein in her household. This is seen when she loans their bed to their neighbours, and he simply assists her in setting it up. He was not offended at her decision-making without him, only annoyed that she keeps getting into people’s business. On the other hand, Urmilla is submissive towards her husband. When asked about her views on how her husband should spend his compensation money, she says that it is up to Tiger. We hear about her dreams and aspirations only when her husband asks her about it. Urmilla and Tiger are also contrasting characters. Urmilla is focused on satisfying her basic physical needs, such as living in a house and having furniture, while Tiger is focused on a ‘higher’ purpose, which is to ensure that he lifts his family out of educational poverty, starting with himself. He is not focused on the physical comforts, like his wife, which is why he has so much respect for Sookdeo, who is an impoverished scholar.
CONFLICT
The conflict is man versus man when Rita goes on a rampage in Tall Boy’s shop, verbally attacking Sookdeo for always championing education, which she thinks cannot feed anyone. She even tries to get Urmilla to give an opinion, but she rejects this opportunity because it goes against her submissive nature.
THEME
Poverty
Poverty is a condition where people lack enough money and basic resources like food and shelter. Urmilla and Tiger live in this state because they lack money, as seen in the fact that they owe Tall Boy, who is aware of their impoverished state, so he nullifies their debt as a gift to their newborn. The couple does have a place of residence, but it is a hut with no bed, so it is not a comfortable shelter. Urmilla’s desire for a house and dining chairs speaks to the fact that she is not happy with her physical state of impoverishment. Poverty is a state of lack, so it can also be argued that Tiger feels educationally starved and impoverished, so he is actively trying to get out of this state by having Sookdeo tutor him. So, both of these characters are trying to escape poverty, just different types of poverty.
Dreams and Aspirations
Dreams and aspirations are seen in Urmilla's desire to live in a house and have furniture, while Tiger’s desire has transcended physical comforts; he wants to be educated. So these two characters are focused on escaping two different types of poverty. Urmilla is focused on improving her physical day-to-day living comforts, while Tiger wants himself and his children and their children to be educated, elevated, like Sookdeo, not chasing the dream of owning a taxi, like his father. Boysie also has aspirations; he wants to leave Trinidad and travel to America and London.
Poverty is a condition where people lack enough money and basic resources like food and shelter. Urmilla and Tiger live in this state because they lack money, as seen in the fact that they owe Tall Boy, who is aware of their impoverished state, so he nullifies their debt as a gift to their newborn. The couple does have a place of residence, but it is a hut with no bed, so it is not a comfortable shelter. Urmilla’s desire for a house and dining chairs speaks to the fact that she is not happy with her physical state of impoverishment. Poverty is a state of lack, so it can also be argued that Tiger feels educationally starved and impoverished, so he is actively trying to get out of this state by having Sookdeo tutor him. So, both of these characters are trying to escape poverty, just different types of poverty.
Dreams and Aspirations
Dreams and aspirations are seen in Urmilla's desire to live in a house and have furniture, while Tiger’s desire has transcended physical comforts; he wants to be educated. So these two characters are focused on escaping two different types of poverty. Urmilla is focused on improving her physical day-to-day living comforts, while Tiger wants himself and his children and their children to be educated, elevated, like Sookdeo, not chasing the dream of owning a taxi, like his father. Boysie also has aspirations; he wants to leave Trinidad and travel to America and London.
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.
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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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