Minfong Ho

Prepared by: Ms Jagvinder Kaur/2015

Place
Singapore
Mr Lis office (18th floor, Shenton Way)
Tanjong Rhu
The hospital room
The altar room

Time
Present (after the death of Ah-Ma)
Past (before the death of Ah-Ma)

Social
Modern day Singapore
Early 20th century Singapore

 Mr Li
Ah-Ma
Ying

Helen
Mr Lis father

 A wealthy and successful man of 63 years of age

Keeps his hair carefully dyed black except for a little grey
The eldest son of nine siblings
A respectful and devoted son although he is sometimes impatient

with his mother.

Seems to be modern feels his daughter is too modern and

disrespectful

Does not seen to want other to know that he comes from humble

beginnings

Responsible mother has proper burial altar room

Regretful attention to mother

 Small and thin with grey hair and a bent back

Mother of nine, grandmother of thirty-four and great-grandmother of

seventeen

Has cataracts but does not want to have surgery to fix it

Speaks Cantonese
A traditional and religious woman who still keeps chickens in the

garden and practises the old Chinese customs and ritual

Often lost in memories years to see Tanjong Rhu

Loves her family very much

 Daughter of Mr Li and Helen

Has a brother who is studying in Cambridge and she

herself is soon leaving for New York

Devoted to her grandmother (hospital)

A modern girl
Seems to have a good relationship with her father

 Wife of Mr Li

Often has tea-parties with her friends

Seems to like socialising

Rather superficial

 Used to own a shipyard in Tanjong Rhu where he built boats

Dies at the age of 53

Upon his death, his wife offer daily prayers to him in the

altar room and sometimes even talks to him.

Traditional values vs. modern ideas

The past vs. the present
Regret
Generation gap

 We must not forget our roots

We must learn to respect and tolerate each other
Family is more important than wealth and success

The story talks about traditional practice

that is slowly fading away. Give an
example of a traditional practice that you
think will soon be forgotten. Why do you
think it will no longer be practised in the
future?