Sentry Page Protection
highway in the sun
PAGES 47-57
START POINT: “Later, after LARRY and JOHN have gone, URMILLA has to face TIGER’S suppressed anger.” (Selvon, 47).
SETTING
- Site of the road.
- Tall Boy’s shop.
- Rita’s house.
SUMMARY
Pages 41-47: Urmilla explains that she thought that Tiger wanted to make an impression on the Americans, and Tiger tells her to stop thinking because she doesn’t have the brains for that. He tells her that the Americans wanted the same experience as them: eating with their hands, sitting on the ground. He also asks her about her face, and she tries to explain Rita’s thoughts about the makeup, but Tiger tells her that she is getting too close to the Creoles. She tells him that she will wash it off, but he starts to slap her multiple times.
Rita hears the tussle and calls out for Urmilla. Tiger leaves Urmilla, sobbing in pain and humiliation, to go and give Rita a cuss off. He tells her to mind her own business and leave Urmilla alone, and to take all her utensils because he can buy his own. Rita accuses him of being drunk and calls Joe, who tells him that his ‘coolie’ blood is talking. Tiger tells him not to call him a ‘coolie’, then proceeds to call Joe a ‘nigger’. Joe then accuses Tiger of drinking too much and sucking up to the white men for a promotion. Tiger says that he has ambition and can read and write. Joe and Rita then reiterate that without their assistance, the men would have eaten on the floor with their hands.
Tiger then tells Joe that he has no quarrel with him; he has an issue with Rita, who ‘decorated’ his wife like a whore in Port of Spain. Rita then swears that she will leave them alone because Tiger is too big for his pants, which so happens to be Joe’s hand-me-down. At that point, Tiger shows them the Yankee dollars in his pocket, and Rita tells him to go buy his wife some clothes, while calling him a cheap ‘coolie’. Joe ends the argument by pulling Rita away and telling her that Tiger is drunk. Tiger goes off muttering that they are jealous because he is writing a book and people turn away when a man tries to better himself.
A few days later, Sookdeo is in Tall Boy’s shop, inspecting the new juke box suspiciously. Tiger asks him to leave it alone because it is for patrons with money. Sookdeo reads the list of songs and concludes that he will not waste his money on it because people would hear his music for free. He is still, however, fascinated by the jukebox, and despite Tall Boy’s warning to leave it alone, when he goes to the back of the shop, Tiger decides to risk his coin and plays the jukebox. Tiger then rushes into the shop to tell Sookdeo that they are going to demolish his garden. He keeps asking if the bulldozers have reached the mango tree because he has money, two to three hundred dollars, buried under it. They are too late, however, and Sookdeo is inconsolable because he has lost his land and the money that he was saving for Tiger. Sookdeo accuses Tiger of helping the Americans to steal his money and goes in front of the bulldozer, where he is killed. He dies with the voices of the villagers echoing in his head.
A few weeks later, after the Americans had moved on, Urmilla talks to Rita about the fact that she is worried about Tiger because he is bombarded by changes that have made him despondent: Sookdeo’s death, he left the work with the Americans despite being asked to stay, he’s trying to decide if he should take a new plot of land, and Boysie is going to England soon. Urmilla says that she thinks that he would talk to Joe, but he is too ashamed of how he cursed them out. Rita says that everyone has to fend for themselves now that the Americans are gone, and he will have to talk first, then gets distracted by a street vendor.
Tiger is reading the newspaper in Tall Boy’s shop, while Tall Boy dismantles the partition, and the children tease Tall Boy, now that Sookdeo is gone. Tall Boy tells Tiger to cheer up and have a drink because he has a new garden, so he should concentrate on building his house and having babies. Tiger says he no longer drinks, and what he’s suggesting is not so easy. Boysie then enters with the news that he is going to town to look about his passport and says that he has his passage money saved up. They convince Tiger to drink with them because Tiger might not see Boysie again, and Sookdeo would drink with them if he were alive.
The three men talk, and Tiger tells them that on top of getting his plot, he was placed in charge of all the gardens. They ask about Tiger’s book, and he tells them that it's coming along. While Tall Boy goes for a fresh bottle, Tiger asks Boysie if he thinks that he is foolish for staying in Trinidad, and Boysie tells him that he thinks that Tiger is stupid because he cannot make a decision. He then lists the decisions that he has made: (a) He’s going to make up with Rita and Joe because he was wrong; a man is not a man until he can admit to his mistakes, (b) he is going to build a house because he will have enough money to do so from the estate job, (c) he’s done with talking in the shop because he has so much to learn, and when he thinks that he has learned enough, he will leave Trinidad. They put a coin in the juke box and play the same song that Sookdeo played on the day of his death. Tiger complains that the juke box won’t allow people to talk. Tiger tells Boysie to write him and tell him about England, and he might take a trip.
Pages 41-47: Urmilla explains that she thought that Tiger wanted to make an impression on the Americans, and Tiger tells her to stop thinking because she doesn’t have the brains for that. He tells her that the Americans wanted the same experience as them: eating with their hands, sitting on the ground. He also asks her about her face, and she tries to explain Rita’s thoughts about the makeup, but Tiger tells her that she is getting too close to the Creoles. She tells him that she will wash it off, but he starts to slap her multiple times.
Rita hears the tussle and calls out for Urmilla. Tiger leaves Urmilla, sobbing in pain and humiliation, to go and give Rita a cuss off. He tells her to mind her own business and leave Urmilla alone, and to take all her utensils because he can buy his own. Rita accuses him of being drunk and calls Joe, who tells him that his ‘coolie’ blood is talking. Tiger tells him not to call him a ‘coolie’, then proceeds to call Joe a ‘nigger’. Joe then accuses Tiger of drinking too much and sucking up to the white men for a promotion. Tiger says that he has ambition and can read and write. Joe and Rita then reiterate that without their assistance, the men would have eaten on the floor with their hands.
Tiger then tells Joe that he has no quarrel with him; he has an issue with Rita, who ‘decorated’ his wife like a whore in Port of Spain. Rita then swears that she will leave them alone because Tiger is too big for his pants, which so happens to be Joe’s hand-me-down. At that point, Tiger shows them the Yankee dollars in his pocket, and Rita tells him to go buy his wife some clothes, while calling him a cheap ‘coolie’. Joe ends the argument by pulling Rita away and telling her that Tiger is drunk. Tiger goes off muttering that they are jealous because he is writing a book and people turn away when a man tries to better himself.
A few days later, Sookdeo is in Tall Boy’s shop, inspecting the new juke box suspiciously. Tiger asks him to leave it alone because it is for patrons with money. Sookdeo reads the list of songs and concludes that he will not waste his money on it because people would hear his music for free. He is still, however, fascinated by the jukebox, and despite Tall Boy’s warning to leave it alone, when he goes to the back of the shop, Tiger decides to risk his coin and plays the jukebox. Tiger then rushes into the shop to tell Sookdeo that they are going to demolish his garden. He keeps asking if the bulldozers have reached the mango tree because he has money, two to three hundred dollars, buried under it. They are too late, however, and Sookdeo is inconsolable because he has lost his land and the money that he was saving for Tiger. Sookdeo accuses Tiger of helping the Americans to steal his money and goes in front of the bulldozer, where he is killed. He dies with the voices of the villagers echoing in his head.
A few weeks later, after the Americans had moved on, Urmilla talks to Rita about the fact that she is worried about Tiger because he is bombarded by changes that have made him despondent: Sookdeo’s death, he left the work with the Americans despite being asked to stay, he’s trying to decide if he should take a new plot of land, and Boysie is going to England soon. Urmilla says that she thinks that he would talk to Joe, but he is too ashamed of how he cursed them out. Rita says that everyone has to fend for themselves now that the Americans are gone, and he will have to talk first, then gets distracted by a street vendor.
Tiger is reading the newspaper in Tall Boy’s shop, while Tall Boy dismantles the partition, and the children tease Tall Boy, now that Sookdeo is gone. Tall Boy tells Tiger to cheer up and have a drink because he has a new garden, so he should concentrate on building his house and having babies. Tiger says he no longer drinks, and what he’s suggesting is not so easy. Boysie then enters with the news that he is going to town to look about his passport and says that he has his passage money saved up. They convince Tiger to drink with them because Tiger might not see Boysie again, and Sookdeo would drink with them if he were alive.
The three men talk, and Tiger tells them that on top of getting his plot, he was placed in charge of all the gardens. They ask about Tiger’s book, and he tells them that it's coming along. While Tall Boy goes for a fresh bottle, Tiger asks Boysie if he thinks that he is foolish for staying in Trinidad, and Boysie tells him that he thinks that Tiger is stupid because he cannot make a decision. He then lists the decisions that he has made: (a) He’s going to make up with Rita and Joe because he was wrong; a man is not a man until he can admit to his mistakes, (b) he is going to build a house because he will have enough money to do so from the estate job, (c) he’s done with talking in the shop because he has so much to learn, and when he thinks that he has learned enough, he will leave Trinidad. They put a coin in the juke box and play the same song that Sookdeo played on the day of his death. Tiger complains that the juke box won’t allow people to talk. Tiger tells Boysie to write him and tell him about England, and he might take a trip.
QUESTIONS
- What is Urmilla’s explanation for borrowing from Rita, and what is Tiger’s response?
- Why does Tiger slap Urmilla multiple times?
- Describe the argument between Tiger, Rita, and Joe.
- What are some of the questions that Sookdeo asks Tall Boy about the juke box?
- What conclusion does he reach about the juke box before venturing to try it?
- What horrible news does Tiger give Sookdeo?
- Why is Sookdeo so concerned about the mango tree?
- How does Sookdeo die?
- How does Sookdeo’s death affect Tiger?
- What does Urmilla speak to Rita about?
- What action, on Tiger’s part, has Boysie and Tall Boy concerned about him?
- What good news does Tiger tell Boysie and Tall Boy?
- List three decisions that Tiger has made.
- What is the last request that Tiger makes of Boysie?
CHARACTERIZATION
Tiger
Tiger is volatile. He is volatile because he is growing and changing. He wants to be an educated man, like Sookdeo, so he is learning new things and concepts and understanding them, but these new things are in conflict with old traditions, which makes him volatile. For example, Tiger understands exactly what the Americans want when they arrive at his home; they want an authentic island experience that they can retell when they return to America. This understanding, however, clashes with cultural norms such as treating women as property. He is unable to ‘read the room’ when the Americans ask about his wife, implying that they care about her comfort, so he relegates her to the kitchen and later beats her for wearing makeup, like a whore. Tiger is, in essence, unpredictable, or volatile, because he is traversing two roads simultaneously; he is learning new concepts and ideas, yet he is caught in the traditional norms of his society.
Urmilla
Urmilla is submissive. Urmilla’s submissive nature is seen in the fact that she does not rebel when her husband beats her. In fact, she turns around and tries to heal the rift between Tiger and Joe by trying to explain Tiger’s behaviour and feelings to Rita. She is still looking out for the welfare of her husband, even though he abuses her.
Rita
Rita is a good friend to Urmilla. Rita and her husband had a fight with Tiger, where insults and racial slurs were hurled, yet she still remained friends with Urmilla. Tiger told her to stay away from his wife, yet she clearly ignored him; she did not abandon her friend.
Joe
Joe is protective of his wife. This is the case because he defends his wife when she is verbally attacked by Tiger. It is almost as if they complete each other’s words when they team up to argue with Tiger: “[Joe] Was you going to let them eat with they hand if we didn’t lend you spoon and plate? … [Rita] And put them to sit ‘pon the floor?” (Selvon, 48).
Boysie
Boysie is wise and decisive. He is wise because he is able to tell Tiger that he is stupid because he cannot make a decision. Boysie has always been decisive because his goal was always to make money so that he could travel to America and England, which he achieves at the end of the play.
Tall Boy
Despite being a champion for individualism and progress, he is a good friend to Tiger. He is very concerned about the fact that Tiger is clearly depressed because he has stopped drinking rum and has substituted it for soda. One might argue that he wants to sell his rum, but he voluntarily tells Boysie that: “He still on cokes.” (Selvon, 55). He does this to get Boysie’s support in pulling Tiger out of his depression.
Tiger is volatile. He is volatile because he is growing and changing. He wants to be an educated man, like Sookdeo, so he is learning new things and concepts and understanding them, but these new things are in conflict with old traditions, which makes him volatile. For example, Tiger understands exactly what the Americans want when they arrive at his home; they want an authentic island experience that they can retell when they return to America. This understanding, however, clashes with cultural norms such as treating women as property. He is unable to ‘read the room’ when the Americans ask about his wife, implying that they care about her comfort, so he relegates her to the kitchen and later beats her for wearing makeup, like a whore. Tiger is, in essence, unpredictable, or volatile, because he is traversing two roads simultaneously; he is learning new concepts and ideas, yet he is caught in the traditional norms of his society.
Urmilla
Urmilla is submissive. Urmilla’s submissive nature is seen in the fact that she does not rebel when her husband beats her. In fact, she turns around and tries to heal the rift between Tiger and Joe by trying to explain Tiger’s behaviour and feelings to Rita. She is still looking out for the welfare of her husband, even though he abuses her.
Rita
Rita is a good friend to Urmilla. Rita and her husband had a fight with Tiger, where insults and racial slurs were hurled, yet she still remained friends with Urmilla. Tiger told her to stay away from his wife, yet she clearly ignored him; she did not abandon her friend.
Joe
Joe is protective of his wife. This is the case because he defends his wife when she is verbally attacked by Tiger. It is almost as if they complete each other’s words when they team up to argue with Tiger: “[Joe] Was you going to let them eat with they hand if we didn’t lend you spoon and plate? … [Rita] And put them to sit ‘pon the floor?” (Selvon, 48).
Boysie
Boysie is wise and decisive. He is wise because he is able to tell Tiger that he is stupid because he cannot make a decision. Boysie has always been decisive because his goal was always to make money so that he could travel to America and England, which he achieves at the end of the play.
Tall Boy
Despite being a champion for individualism and progress, he is a good friend to Tiger. He is very concerned about the fact that Tiger is clearly depressed because he has stopped drinking rum and has substituted it for soda. One might argue that he wants to sell his rum, but he voluntarily tells Boysie that: “He still on cokes.” (Selvon, 55). He does this to get Boysie’s support in pulling Tiger out of his depression.
TECHNIQUE
Irony
It is ironic that Urmilla tries to make herself look pretty for her husband and gets beaten for her efforts. She was hesitant about allowing Rita to put makeup on her, but acquiesced because Tiger gave her the directive to “look good” (Selvon, 42), and she is punished for her efforts.
Juxtaposition
There is a clear juxtaposition between Rita and Joe, and Urmilla and Tiger. Rita and Joe are a mature couple who are loyal to each other. This loyalty is seen when they literally cursed Tiger out together, almost completing each other's sentences. Joe also gives Rita a lot of leeway in terms of making decisions regarding loaning out their household items, as seen in the fact that she never asks Joe permission to loan Urmilla their furniture or utensils. The relationship between Urmilla and Tiger is not the same. Their relationship is young, and Tiger is traditional in his approach to his relationship with his wife. This means that he makes all the decisions for them, as seen when she tells Rita that Tiger will decide what is done with the compensation money. Tiger even beats Urmilla when she wears makeup, one of the few independent decisions that she makes. These two couples, therefore, are foils.
Symbolism
The jukebox in Tall Boy’s shop is a symbol of change. This is the case because it is the only thing that remains after the bringers of change, the Americans, leave. The partition is dismantled, which means that the community will heal itself, but the jukebox interrupts the flow of conversation, which interrupts the time-wasting, because people will not be able to hear each other: “The sounds of ‘Rum and Coca-Cola’ rise to blot out their talk …” (Selvon, 57).
Sookdeo represents resistance to change. He literally places himself before the bulldozer that is ripping up his land and the mango tree that his money is buried under. Sookdeo rages at the unfairness of losing his land and his money, but is impotent to prevent the loss. The result of his resistance is death; he is literally crushed by the bulldozer, which represents the machinery of change.
It is ironic that Urmilla tries to make herself look pretty for her husband and gets beaten for her efforts. She was hesitant about allowing Rita to put makeup on her, but acquiesced because Tiger gave her the directive to “look good” (Selvon, 42), and she is punished for her efforts.
Juxtaposition
There is a clear juxtaposition between Rita and Joe, and Urmilla and Tiger. Rita and Joe are a mature couple who are loyal to each other. This loyalty is seen when they literally cursed Tiger out together, almost completing each other's sentences. Joe also gives Rita a lot of leeway in terms of making decisions regarding loaning out their household items, as seen in the fact that she never asks Joe permission to loan Urmilla their furniture or utensils. The relationship between Urmilla and Tiger is not the same. Their relationship is young, and Tiger is traditional in his approach to his relationship with his wife. This means that he makes all the decisions for them, as seen when she tells Rita that Tiger will decide what is done with the compensation money. Tiger even beats Urmilla when she wears makeup, one of the few independent decisions that she makes. These two couples, therefore, are foils.
Symbolism
The jukebox in Tall Boy’s shop is a symbol of change. This is the case because it is the only thing that remains after the bringers of change, the Americans, leave. The partition is dismantled, which means that the community will heal itself, but the jukebox interrupts the flow of conversation, which interrupts the time-wasting, because people will not be able to hear each other: “The sounds of ‘Rum and Coca-Cola’ rise to blot out their talk …” (Selvon, 57).
Sookdeo represents resistance to change. He literally places himself before the bulldozer that is ripping up his land and the mango tree that his money is buried under. Sookdeo rages at the unfairness of losing his land and his money, but is impotent to prevent the loss. The result of his resistance is death; he is literally crushed by the bulldozer, which represents the machinery of change.
CONFLICT
Man versus man is seen when Tiger quarrels with Rita and Joe, and man versus himself is seen when Tiger reflects on his life after Sookdeo’s death. He retreats into himself, shuns alcohol, and comes out at the end with three life-changing decisions: he will apologize to Joe and Rita, he is going to build a house, and he will stop being unproductive in Tall Boy’s shop.
THEME
Change
Change is seen in the dismantling of the partition, because this means that Barataria is no longer segregated and will heal from the arrival of the Americans. The fact that the jukebox remains in Tall Boy’s shop also signals change because the bar’s ability to allow talking and chilling is limited. The decisions that Tiger makes - he will apologize to Joe and Rita, he is going to build a house, and he will stop being unproductive in Tall Boy’s shop - also signal change because there is an implication that he will become more productive.
Manhood
The theme of manhood is explored in the decisions that Tiger finally makes at the end of the play. The play itself has been a study in Tiger testing out what it means to be a man. He tries to get an education and write a book because he sees literacy and intelligence as an important step in becoming a man of worth, but his decisions at the end of the play reveal that he finally understood what it means to be a man. He decided to apologize to Joe and Rita, build a house, and stop being unproductive in Tall Boy’s shop. These are literally the action steps that will ensure that he is a man because these steps will ensure that he is taking care of his family.
Dreams and Aspirations
Dreams and aspirations are realized at the end of the play for Boysie. He was a man who made a decision to pursue his dream of saving up money to go to America and England. By the end of the play, he has saved the money to buy his ticket and will be heading to town to get his passport. He is on his way to achieving his dreams.
Change is seen in the dismantling of the partition, because this means that Barataria is no longer segregated and will heal from the arrival of the Americans. The fact that the jukebox remains in Tall Boy’s shop also signals change because the bar’s ability to allow talking and chilling is limited. The decisions that Tiger makes - he will apologize to Joe and Rita, he is going to build a house, and he will stop being unproductive in Tall Boy’s shop - also signal change because there is an implication that he will become more productive.
Manhood
The theme of manhood is explored in the decisions that Tiger finally makes at the end of the play. The play itself has been a study in Tiger testing out what it means to be a man. He tries to get an education and write a book because he sees literacy and intelligence as an important step in becoming a man of worth, but his decisions at the end of the play reveal that he finally understood what it means to be a man. He decided to apologize to Joe and Rita, build a house, and stop being unproductive in Tall Boy’s shop. These are literally the action steps that will ensure that he is a man because these steps will ensure that he is taking care of his family.
Dreams and Aspirations
Dreams and aspirations are realized at the end of the play for Boysie. He was a man who made a decision to pursue his dream of saving up money to go to America and England. By the end of the play, he has saved the money to buy his ticket and will be heading to town to get his passport. He is on his way to achieving his dreams.
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.
