Tanjong rhu

By Minfong Ho (retold by Clare West)

SYNOPSIS
Mr. Li is a successful businessman who lives in
Singapore with his family. He recently lost his
mother whom he called Ah-Ma.
As he mourns for her death, he recalls some
important events before her death, most of which
revolves around a pair of binoculars.
He had brought the binoculars home one day for
his mother, to help her see further.
However, Ah-Ma was often lost in her memories
of the past and her only concern was to see
Tanjong Rhu, a place where they used to live
while he was growing up. As it firmly etched in
her mind, she said she did not need binoculars to
see the beloved place.

SYNOPSIS
When Mr. Li finally managed to convince his mother to use
the binoculars, he was upset that she still could not see
the ships at the harbour in front of his office. Instead, in
her minds eye, she saw Tanjong Rhu in the past, back
when Mr. Li was still a young boy.
Mr. Li became impatient with his mother and refused to
listen to her stories.
Back in the present, Mr. Li regrets his actions on that day
as now he too longs to go back to his childhood in Tanjong
Rhu. He finds that his memories are vague and there are
many things that he does not remember clearly. He
suddenly wants to ask his mother a lot of things.
Unfortunately, it is late to do so because his mother has
passed away.

SETTING
Place: The story is set in Singapore. Mr.
Lis office is located on the 18th floor above
Shenton Way, a central business district in
Singapore. The most important location
mentioned is Tanjong Rhu, a place known
for its shipyards in the past.
Time frame: The time frame goes back
and forth between the present (after the
death of Ah-Ma) and the past (before the
death of Ah-Ma).

PLOT
Mr. Li looks outside his office window one late
evening.
It is the day after the burial and Mr. Li feels
that there is something he has left undone.
He suddenly remembers that he has not count
the ships at the harbour for the day.
He picks up his binoculars and starts counting
them.
Looking at the binoculars, he suddenly
remembers that he had brought them for his
late mother so that she could see better.
All of a sudden he gets swept away by
memories.

PLOT
Mr. Li reminisces about the time he spent with his
mother ; flashback to the past.
Mr. Li was eager to show the binoculars to his mother
the day he brought them.
When he showed Ah-Ma the binoculars, she argued
with him, saying that she did not need them.
They discussed the possibility of Ah-Ma having a
cataract operation to which she adamantly refused.
Ah-Ma agreed to try the binoculars if she could see
Tanjong Rhu, where she used to live with her family a
long time ago.
Mr. Li was disinterested to hear his mothers stories.

PLOT
Mr. Li yearns to see Tanjong Rhu too ; back in
the present.
Mr. Li looks at the binoculars lying next to the
window and wishes that he had listened to his
mothers stories.
Suddenly, he yearns to go back to the time
when he was a little boy in Tanjong Rhu.
He finds that his memory is very vague and
there are plenty of things that he does not
remember.
He regrets not asking his mother all the
questions he has about the past when shes still
alive and well.

PLOT
Ah-Ma is ill in the hospital ; flashback to the past.

Mr. Li remembers visiting Ah-Ma at the hospital.

Ying took care of her grandmother and even gave blood

to her.

Ying persuaded her father to speak to his mother to see

if she recognised him.

It turned out that she did remember about him but was
too ill to answer the question.

Mr. Li scolded Ying for treating her grandmother with

such actions whilst theyre arguing, Ah-Ma said her last
word; The keys to the drawer of the altar, hidden in a
special place.

PLOT
Mr. Li speaks to his mother in the altar room;
back in the present.
As evening turns into night, Mr. Li suddenly
remembers that he has to do one last thing for
his mother to take a good care of the altar.
So, he went home and went to the altar room
and puts his mothers photo beside his fathers.
He thinks about the rituals that need to be
performed, only to realize that the drawer where
the joss ticks are located is locked.
Mr. Li just talk to his mother and tells her that
he finally saw Tanjong Rhu today.
However, he feels silly talking to the
photographs and leaves the altar room.

CHARACTERS and
CHARACTERISTICS
Mr. Li
A wealthy businessman of 63 years of age.
A respectful and devoted son although he is
sometimes impatient with his mother.
Does not seem to want others to know that he
comes from humble beginnings.
A responsible and reliable son. He ensures that
his mother has a proper burial and takes care of
the altar room upon her death.
Regretful that he did not pay more attention to
his mother when she was alive.

CHARACTERS and
CHARACTERISTICS
Ah-Ma
Small and thin with grey hair and a bent back.
Speaks Cantonese and has cataracts but does
not want to have surgery to fix it.
A traditional and religious woman who practices
the old Chinese customs and rituals.
Particular and meticulous when it comes to
taking care of the altar and performing her
prayers.
Loves her family very much. She speaks fondly
about them in her recollections.

CHARACTERS and
CHARACTERISTICS.
Ying
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, very
affectionate towards her and takes good
care of her at the hospital.
A modern girl. She speaks English to her
parents and takes the traditional customs
and rituals lightly.

THEMES
Traditional values vs. modern ideas.
In the short story, Ah-Ma is steeped in traditional values.
She has a high regard for the traditional practices of the
Chinese community, such as praying to the ancestors in
order to have the familys blessing. In contrast , Mr. Li and
Ying represent the modern society and do not place much
importance on tradition.
Regret.
Mr. Li feels deep regret for the way he treats Ah-Ma after
his mother starts to fall ill and later passes away. He has
never paid much attention to any of her stories and later
regretted his actions.

MORAL VALUES
We must learn to appreciate people while we
can.
We often forget to show our love and appreciation
to our loved ones. This is portrayed by Mr. Li who
always gets impatient with her mother when she
tried to tell him some stories from the past.
While money can buy most things, it cannot buy
everything.
In the story, Ah-Ma seems to have everything she
needs in her life. However, she yearns to go back
in time to Tanjong Rhu, when her family have
much less material things. This shows that there
certain things where money cant buy.

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

The story is written in the third person point of view

he, she.

The plot is arranged in a back and forth manner; it starts

in the present and along the way there are flashbacks
that portray important events in the past which ties with
the present situation.
In the terms of language, a few idioms used in the story
is of Chinese origin to keep the authenticity of the story.
The ending is up to the readers interpretation. Theres
no further explanation regarding whether the key of the
drawer is found and also, it does not mention whether
Mr. Li continues to regret his actions or is finally at
peace.

THANK YOU FOR LENDING

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well thankyou for listening eventhough it might be boring for you guys
regardless thankyou! arigato! kamsahamnida! syukran!
woo finally its finished!!!!!