Yu Wada

Yu wada Grade 10B

#36 (page 149-152)          Eighth Month, Third Day

24 September 1949  Year of the Ox

In this letter the author has described Suang U’s point of view towards Thailand and his son Weng Khim’s recent attitude. Several years have passed since he came to live in Thailand, however seems like he hasn’t completely acknowledged Thailand as his home. He has great pride of himself as Chinese person. Therefore he doesn’t want his son to become more Thai instead of Chinese. The way of his thinking and education has create the main conflict in this letter. 

As this letter starts, the author has written about Suang U’s problem by using first person narrative. He was afraid of his son get closer to the to Thai community and get further away from being Chinese. Suang U said “My child has to speak Chinese at home” (page 149), this was the beginning sentence of the main conflict in this letter. He had confessed his problem to his wife’s sister Ang Buai. However his wife does not completely agree with him though as there were lots of Chinese who were born in Thailand and grew up speaking Thai.  It seems like she has nothing to worry about Weng Khim’s life style, moreover she was protecting Weng Khim from Suang U. As the story continues the conflict becomes bigger and bigger. Suang U tries to control Weng Khim’s activity by making him stay away from the Thai lifestyle. “… Then Father take him to school. Most of the neighboring children walk alone, but I don’t trust the traffic. At noon someone takes him a hot lunch from kitchen, for although he could buy noodles on the street, he isn’t used to such food.….On Sunday afternoon, he usually goes for a car ride with Ang Buai, but allow that only when he has nothing more important to do.” (Page 151). This quote tells us as readers that his great pride has influenced him do this in order to protect his son’s future as Chinese and for own his pride.  In the end Suang U has to withdraw him self from the conflict because of Ang Buai’s stubbornness and he decides to give Ang Buai time to think.

From this Letter we can see the Suang U’s viewpoint towards Thailand. He has compared the environment of China with Thailand. This quote has proved this. “I suppose you think I ought to raise him as a Thai, eh? Let him run through the streets half-naked like those urchins outside? Never! I suppose you’d like to see him dirty and wild, ‘enjoying himself’ and dependent on his parents until he’s a parent himself―no respect, no fear, no sense! He is seeing how we get taught, Ang Buai, what life is all about. How we Chinese work hard and stick together, and take care of our sae brothers…The love of a father is more than indulgence and sentimentality.” (Page 151). These sentences give us enough images of differences between the culture of China and Thailand. From his sentence I can understand he believes that Chinese people have more respect towards their ancestors and more responsible for their clan. However on the other hand In Thailand, they are more free and wild. Hence Suang U thinks this will affect Weng Khim in bad way and will bring shame on his clan. 

The main theme of this letter is based on the preservation of culture. Suang U was trying to control his son’s activity by making him stay away from the Thai lifestyle. He demanded WengKhim and Ang Buai to accept about his opinion. However they, especially Ang Buai, don’t agree and are against his opinion. She was doing this for Weng Khim’s good. However from Suang U, he also thinks that he is doing for his son’s good. He thinks it is the worst case for Weng Khim to forgot his mother tongue language. “Sai keep speaking Thai to Weng Khim. He gets more than enough of it at his school” (Page 149) This also becomes a pressure for him so that makes his opinion about the education of  Weng Khim as a Chinese much stronger.  Suang U will thinks that if this happens it will bring shame ti his clan since he is person who respects  his culture.  Therefore he really demands Weng Khim to understand his position and for that he needs Ang Buai’s agreement. Suang U had said “I know what I’m doing, Ang Buai. He will be a disciplined human being, a person who knows how to use time. He is learning that work is noble, not just an irksome necessity.” (Page 151). This is a strong sentence that used by Suang U to make Ang Buai to understand about how Chinese people value their work. Chinese people are likely to educate their children to be hard workers, to make them understand the value of precious time and difficulty of gaining money.  This was everything Suang U has learned since he was little from his culture, and now he is having a trouble passing on the culture because they are living in a complete different environment.  The other theme can be now in contrast to the  future. Suang U that thinking the importance of Weng Khim’s future and Ang Buai that protecting Weng Khim’s “now”.

As I recognised  from this letter, there were lots of sentences that have  been produced by the characters instead of narrator, this is to make the conflict more realistic for reader. This is useful because we can imagine the characters feelings and thoughts. Therefore we can understand the feeling of both sides. Suang U’s desire that wants to educate Weng Khim as Chinese and Ang Buai’s desire that wants  Suang U to realise that his opinions will only make Weng Khim suffer. These are two opinions that could not agree.

Suang U had did this in order to make Weng Khim happy in future, instead of now. Therefore Suang U and Ang Bai, they both think about Weng Khim’s happiness, it just they have different beliefs and thoughts.

Suha’s Analysis

English SL
Grade 10
Suha Jin

Letter #22 and #5

Letter #22
Ninth Month, Fifth day
29 September 1946
Year of the dog

In letter number 22, there is an argument between Suang U and Mui Eng about how to raise their child. Suang U and Mui Eng had different ideas of raising child. Also, this letter shows the embarrassment that Mui Eng felt from being pregnant. This letter also includes anger. Suang U started feeling that now he has to be more confidence and take more responsibility. He had married, he would have a child soon, and his business is also running. He needs to take care of all of them.
First of all, Suang U and Mui Eng started talking about embarrassment from being pregnant. “Anyways, I wouldn’t let anyone see me like this it’s embarrassing”, “I am not going anywhere until it’s gone, I hate being pregnant”, “first I was sick, now I have this ugly thing in front of me” (p84) this passages show us that how Mui Eng hate to being pregnant and she think that being pregnant is embarrassing. Mui Eng is actually mad at herself being pregnant because of her looking, her physical appearance. Obviously, when women are pregnant, their stomach would get bigger. Baby is growing in there and living with one more life in their own stomach would be able to create ultimate anger. Their physical appearances are ugly because their stomachs are getting bigger and bigger all the time and they cannot move well, they cannot do something that they want to do as well. Being pregnant is really stressful. Those passages wrote above shows that how women may feel to being pregnant.
When Suang U and Mui Eng talked about being pregnant, Suang said that being pregnant is not embarrassment because it represents that pregnant means carrying baby in their stomach, which means they are taking care of new young life in their stomach. It is really hard work and only women can do it. So Suang U was really proud of his wife.
At the last part of this letter, I could find that they were talking about education of children. Both of Suang U and Mui Eng had different ideas to educate their own children. Suang U said that “The best education is one that teaches a person to take care of himself that is necessary for every man, in every generation. A wise man is one who can keep his own rice bowl filled, not depend on others to do it for him.” (p86) This represents that the idea of education of Suang U is be prepared and learn the skills and knowledge when they are young so they would not have any trouble to keep themselves and their family alive. The idea of Suang U is to have better life to live; we need to educate our children when they are young so they would not have any trouble later on. It sounds like to have better life we have to live in decided rule to make no mistakes. However, idea of Mui Eng is quiet different than Saung. “A child needs love, To love a child best is to prepare him for the truth. And the truth is that childhood is a dream that passes swiftly and can hardly be remembered in the light of dawn.” (p86) Mui Eng is saying that love is more important than preparing future like a machine. Teach them love and give them a dream to dream of and let them find their own goal is Mui Eng’s idea of education I think. She may let her child grow up lazy but teach him love and her child also can love his parents and children. When people love each other, they do not want to hurt each other. They try to get better and mostly the results are good. They bless their family’s happiness.

Letter #5
Seventh Month, Twenty Ninth Day
5 September 1945
Year of the Cock

Suang U felt a guilty that he left his mother in China and went a trip to find new job. He met a person who adopts him as his father. They arrive to Thailand and he finally got new job to do. It was teaching two daughters of their director. In this letter, how excites Suang U and two girls.
In letter number 5, it begins with excitement of Suang U. Suang U had decide to teach two daughters of his director Chinese an hour every day. “I CAN barely eat or sleep for excitement.” (p24) This passage shows that how excited he is. Generally, people cannot sleep or eat when they got too excited to something that they had been waiting for so long. “Starting tomorrow, I shall be spending a whole hour every day with that girl, the face of the moon!” (p24) This passage represents that, one of the daughters who he would teach is a person who Suang U interest in. When I read this passage, I thought that Suang U may excite just because he could spend an hour with the girl with face of the moon instead of having new work to do. I believe that Suang U was excited because of that girl because, he used the expression ‘the face of the moon.’ The moon does not have face however, comparing the face as the moon represents that the girl is really beautiful than others. The moon is an object that we are not able to touch and we only can see and dream about it. I believe that she is a dream girl of Suang U.
While Suang U teaches girls, he found out unique of them. “These girls! Fighting over stories all day long. Why don’t they fight over clothes like other girls?” It shows that those two daughters of his director are different unlike normal girls. Normally, girls are chatting and arguing about what they have and what they want to buy, such things as clothes, dolls, and shoes but, there two girls are fighting each other because of story of a book. It shows that they are not ordinary girls and makes Suang U more interest into the girl that he is looking for. It also shows that those two girls were actually had education unlike normal girls. In 1945, women still did not get chances to learn. Only people who learned can have an argument about literatures.

Tiffanie-Letter 86

Letter #86 (page 360-367)

30 January 1966

First Month, Tenth Day

Year of the Horse

 

This letter is written by Suang U sometime after all of his children but Meng Chu have gotten married. In this letter, Suang U writes about his conversation with Winyu, a Thai schoolteacher soon to be married to Meng Chu, Suang U’s youngest child and with Ang Buai, still about the matter of choosing the race of the husband for one of his daughters. Again in this letter, just like previously before, Suang U tries to convince himself about the truth of his stereotype about Chinese, Thai and farangs.

Apparently, now, 50 letters after letter #35, Suang U is feeling disappointed about his children. Weng Khim, from whom he expects the most has disgraced his family and according to Weng Khim himself, it is because “It was the only time in my life I ever got what I wanted the way I wanted and on my terms.” (Page 338). Chui Kim, who is married to a rich Chinese man does not really care about him anymore and Bak Li, too, has brought disgrace and the situation forced her to marry an incompetent Chinese man. He wonders whether there is something wrong with his method of educating or not.

At the beginning paragraphs of his letter, he mentioned “There is one person who does try to understand why I write these letters, and oddly enough it is Winyu the schoolteacher, who hopes to marry my Meng Chu.” (Page 361). There is a sense of queerness in his tone when he says this and it is because Suang U never expects that a Thai man will say something wise like this, not a Thai man of his stereotype about them. Winyu is an open-minded man, who never hesitates to “borrow an idea” if it is good. Later on, Winyu’s confesses about his thoughts about Chinese and how he wants to avoid getting along with a Chinese father in-law after he’s married. He mentions “The things you believe about Thai men are as unfair as the old saw that all Chinese are greedy chiselers.” (Page 362) and “What I do not like is the fact that you came to my country and got rich in my country, and now you sit there and tell me I can’t marry your daughter…Your attitude toward your place in our society I frankly detest.”  In other words, Winyu expects Suang U to open his mind and erase his stereotype about Thai men and to receive more of other people’s ideas. Later, hoping that his sister in-law would understand him, he tells Ang Buai that he thinks Meng Chu rather marries a Chinese ice cream vendor than an intelligent Thai schoolteacher. This time, just like Ang Buai before, she is in Meng Chu and Winyu’s side, making Suang U feel “humiliated and lonely”.

This plot change, beginning from the fate of marriage of three of his children and ending at his discussion with Winyu in this letter is meant to “confront” Suang U’s feeling of being superior and to point out his wrong perceptions. Winyu is used to modify the character of Suang U to lead the story to the point that Suang U realizes his mistake and starting to become more humble and feeling less superior and racist. This is a change for the better and it signifies another learning point of Suang U. Although at the end of the letter Suang U is still stubborn, in the next letters, Suang U starts to think about this and thanks to the further plot that shows that among his children, Meng Chu and his husband cares for him the most, he, at last changes.

Tiffanie – Letter 36 (editted)

Letter #36 (page 149-152)

24 September 1949

Eighth Month, Third Day

Year of the Ox

 

In this letter, the main topic of discussion is Suang U’s reaction and point of view towards Weng Khim’s behavior of constantly speaking Thai to people around him. Suang U disapproves of this, for he has a great pride of being Chinese. Little Weng Khim, who was still naive and unaware of racial issues like this replied his father with innocent remarks and questions. Another issue portrayed here is about the Suang U’s Chinese way of educating children, shown in Suang U’s and Ang Buai’s discussion, where each one of them carried different perspectives and opinions.

Being a Chinese and acting like a Chinese is considered as one of the most essential aspect by Suang U. His great sense of patriotism is greatly shown in the book, even in many of the letters. In this letter he mentioned “But the origin of his family, his sae, all the past which produced him and made him who he is, these are the most important facts in his life…I want him to be able to move easily in both worlds, Thai and Chinese, but as a Chinese. When we conduct ourselves with pride and seek to benefit our adopted country by the honest work of our lives, no man will despise us.”(Page 150). This quote shows that Suang U is extremely proud about being Chinese and by being good to local Thai people in the country, he shows no fear of being hated as long as what they do is what’s morally right to do. Suang U does not want to distort his identity as a Chinese, with another reason that he is much discontented of Thais who he stereotypes as “lazy” and farangs who he consider impolite and “shameless”.

Suang U also very much values and applies the ways of traditional Chinese education to his household, especially to his only son who he expects the most from. Ang Buai’s protestation to him about his hard and “rigid” ways of educating Weng Khim which were just too much was thought of as too lenient compared to Chinese principles of life and work. Suang U says, “He will be a disciplined human being, a person who knows how to use time. He is learning that work is noble, not just an irksome necessity.” (Page 151) and “I suppose you think I ought to raise him as a Thai, eh? Let him run through the streets half-naked like those urchins outside? Never! I suppose you’d like to see him dirty and wild, ‘enjoying himself’ and dependent on his parents until he’s a parent himself—no respect, no fear, no sense! The love of a father is more than indulgence and sentimentality.” (Page 151). These words of Suang U, which were spoken a little bit harshly, demands Ang Buai to realize about how Chinese people value work, again whilst comparing their culture with Thai’s. Ang Buai is now a changed woman, she has adapted modern principles in her life. In this letter, Suang U responds to Ang Buai’s idea too hastily and extreme. Actually, Ang Buai means not to spoil Weng Khim by letting him play longer and longer. In her pint of view, forcing small children to work too much is a dangerous thing to do, that can also affect his behavior in the future. But in the traditional Chinese culture, in fact, until now, Chinese parents teach their children to be hard-workers, to appreciate the value of precious time, money and hardship.

Suang U, however, has good and kind intentions towards Weng Khim. This can be concluded from the last sentence of the quote above. He feels that treating children like “spoiled brats” is an unrighteous thing to do. A child cannot depend on his/her parents forever and for a parent like Suang U, seeing his own grown-up son incapable in his life in the future will be a disappointing thing to see, which shows his failure for giving his love to Weng Khim in a wrong way, in a way that does not prepare him for the cruel reality his son has to face in the future.

Tiffanie Letter 36 & 86

Letter #36 (page 149-152)

24 September 1949

Eighth Month, Third Day

Year of the Ox

 

In this letter, the main topic of discussion is Suang U’s reaction and point of view towards Weng Khim’s behavior of constantly speaking Thai to people around him. Suang U disapproves of this, for he has a great pride of being Chinese. Little Weng Khim, who was still naive and unaware of racial issues like this replied his father with innocent remarks and questions. Another issue portrayed here is about the Suang U’s Chinese way of educating children, shown in Suang U’s and Ang Buai’s discussion, where each one of them carried different perspectives and opinions.

Being a Chinese and acting like a Chinese is considered as one of the most essential aspect by Suang U. His great sense of patriotism is greatly shown in the book, even in many of the letters. In this letter he mentioned “But the origin of his family, his sae, all the past which produced him and made him who he is, these are the most important facts in his life…I want him to be able to move easily in both worlds, Thai and Chinese, but as a Chinese. When we conduct ourselves with pride and seek to benefit our adopted country by the honest work of our lives, no man will despise us.”(Page 150). This quote shows that Suang U is extremely proud about being Chinese and by being good to local Thai people in the country, he shows no fear of being hated as long as what they do is what’s morally right to do. Suang U does not want to distort his identity as a Chinese, with another reason that he is much discontented of Thais who he stereotypes as “lazy” and farangs who he consider impolite and “shameless”.

Suang U also very much values and applies the ways of traditional Chinese education to his household, especially to his only son who he expects the most from. Ang Buai’s protestation to him about his hard and “rigid” ways of educating Weng Khim which were just too much was thought of as too lenient compared to Chinese principles of life and work. Suang U says, “He will be a disciplined human being, a person who knows how to use time. He is learning that work is noble, not just an irksome necessity.” (Page 151) and “I suppose you think I ought to raise him as a Thai, eh? Let him run through the streets half-naked like those urchins outside? Never! I suppose you’d like to see him dirty and wild, ‘enjoying himself’ and dependent on his parents until he’s a parent himself—no respect, no fear, no sense! The love of a father is more than indulgence and sentimentality.” (Page 151). These words of Suang U, which were spoken a little bit harshly, demands Ang Buai to realize about how Chinese people value work, again whilst comparing their culture with Thai’s. Ang Buai is now a changed woman, she has adapted modern principles in her life. In this letter, Suang U responds to Ang Buai’s idea too hastily and extreme. Actually, Ang Buai means not to spoil Weng Khim by letting him play longer and longer. In her pint of view, forcing small children to work too much is a dangerous thing to do, that can also affect his behavior in the future. But in the traditional Chinese culture, in fact, until now, Chinese parents teach their children to be hard-workers, to appreciate the value of precious time, money and hardship.

Suang U, however, has good and kind intentions towards Weng Khim. This can be concluded from the last sentence of the quote above. He feels that treating children like “spoiled brats” is an unrighteous thing to do. A child cannot depend on his/her parents forever and for a parent like Suang U, seeing his own grown-up son incapable in his life in the future will be a disappointing thing to see, which shows his failure for giving his love to Weng Khim in a wrong way, in a way that does not prepare him for the cruel reality his son has to face in the future.

 

Letter #86 (page 360-367)

30 January 1966

First Month, Tenth Day

Year of the Horse

 

This letter is written by Suang U sometime after all of his children but Meng Chu have gotten married. In this letter, Suang U writes about his conversation with Winyu, a Thai schoolteacher soon to be married to Meng Chu, Suang U’s youngest child and with Ang Buai, still about the matter of choosing the race of the husband for one of his daughters. Again in this letter, just like previously before, Suang U tries to convince himself about the truth of his stereotype about Chinese, Thai and farangs.

Apparently, now, 50 letters after letter #35, Suang U is feeling disappointed about his children. Weng Khim, from whom he expects the most has disgraced his family and according to Weng Khim himself, it is because “It was the only time in my life I ever got what I wanted the way I wanted and on my terms.” (Page 338). Chui Kim, who is married to a rich Chinese man does not really care about him anymore and Bak Li, too, has brought disgrace and the situation forced her to marry an incompetent Chinese man. He wonders whether there is something wrong with his method of educating or not.

At the beginning paragraphs of his letter, he mentioned “There is one person who does try to understand why I write these letters, and oddly enough it is Winyu the schoolteacher, who hopes to marry my Meng Chu.” (Page 361). There is a sense of queerness in his tone when he says this and it is because Suang U never expects that a Thai man will say something wise like this, not a Thai man of his stereotype about them. Winyu is an open-minded man, who never hesitates to “borrow an idea” if it is good. Later on, Winyu’s confesses about his thoughts about Chinese and how he wants to avoid getting along with a Chinese father in-law after he’s married. He mentions “The things you believe about Thai men are as unfair as the old saw that all Chinese are greedy chiselers.” (Page 362) and “What I do not like is the fact that you came to my country and got rich in my country, and now you sit there and tell me I can’t marry your daughter…Your attitude toward your place in our society I frankly detest.”  In other words, Winyu expects Suang U to open his mind and erase his stereotype about Thai men and to receive more of other people’s ideas. Later, hoping that his sister in-law would understand him, he tells Ang Buai that he thinks Meng Chu rather marries a Chinese ice cream vendor than an intelligent Thai schoolteacher. This time, just like Ang Buai before, she is in Meng Chu and Winyu’s side, making Suang U feel “humiliated and lonely”.

This plot change, beginning from the fate of marriage of three of his children and ending at his discussion with Winyu in this letter is meant to “confront” Suang U’s feeling of being superior and to point out his wrong perceptions. Winyu is used to modify the character of Suang U to lead the story to the point that Suang U realizes his mistake and starting to become more humble and feeling less superior and racist. This is a change for the better and it signifies another learning point of Suang U. Although at the end of the letter Suang U is still stubborn, in the next letters, Suang U starts to think about this and thanks to the further plot that shows that among his children, Meng Chu and his husband cares for him the most, he, at last changes.

Letter 46 TEO

Letter 46

Second Month, Tenth Day
24th March 1953, Year of the Cock

(Page 190-195)

I have just finished a novel originally written in Thai and translated into English, which is 410 pages long and made me want to read more books written in Thai. This book is “Letters from Thailand”, by the Chinese Thai woman writer named Botan. The book has even won some awards. The author has written her book as a series of letters. These are between a Chinese immigrant living in Thailand and his mother living in China. It is set in Bangkok in the 1950s to 1960s.

The author has creating a story that could have happened and that is also the story of many expatriated persons. The son is sending a lot of different letters to his mother even though she never answers. In the prologue, they told us that she never received the letters because the postman can’t find the village so that they keep all the letters in the police office. “Two month ago, these letters were seized by the Thai National Police Department” (p 1) “Perhaps he was unable to locate her farm, or some other circumstance may have prevented his delivering the letters, but the fact is that he did not deliver any of them.” (p 2). Some lines below, the police officer says that “What does matter is that Suang U’s mother never knew the letters existed […] For all she know, her son had left her forever, without a word beyond the note he left on the kitchen table the night he boarded a ship for Bangkok.” (p 2) The fact that the author write-done these information in the prologue at the very first page is giving us some mysterious and important information that a normal novel would have reviled at the end of the book. Also, I initially skipped the prologue as in other book I usually find it not useful. But when I went back on it at the end, it totally upset me not to have read it before.

By this mean, the narrator shows us his difficult task to find some kind of respect in the middle of all these new unknown people and society he is forced to deal with. All these character are all a different part on the society and every one can be identified as a varying person in the novel and all of them will at the end be forced to draw a conclusion that will learn to all of us, human’s, how small we are all and that will guide and lead our minds to a better world and not to a patchwork of “better than other persons”! The book is written with some kind of humor from the narrator. The narrator in Botan’s book has to face all sorts of social problems.

We can distinguish in the novel some gambling and even cigarette smoking teens. Corruption is very well shown from the work of Bangkok’s immigration police. Sex is well shown without going into too much detail, the narrator gives us the example of a teenage couple having a good time. Prostitution is also covered when he says that Thai society is too hard on these people. Again all these are discussed using a lot of humor.

I am now going to talk about a letter written about 8 years after the narrator, Suang U, comes to Thailand. During this time Yong Chua has been treating him as his own son. Mr. Chua gives him a place to live as well as a job. He has lost all his friends due to Seng. In this letter (letter 46 p 190 to 195) the narrator is relating to Father’s (Yong Chua’s) funeral.

“At least … at least help with the books? Have you lost your mind, Mui Eng?They see a little cash, these people, and before you know it, your money is going to buy lottery tickets, whiskeys, bad women! Nobody but me touches this book – Not you, nobody, do you understand?” (Page 192) shows how his lack of trust has developed during these years. In this passage he disagree of the idea to hire a book-keeper.

Suang U clearly think that he is superior and better than other characters shown in the book and therefore is a good person to write about for this essay, he accuses others of crime in some letters with no need of evidence to reefer upon. He only trust himself and think that he is the center of the world. The only fact he can sit on to explain his self-centerlines is his experience and education that leeds to his high power in the society and to his worker. Non-less, he was also a good men and helped Ang Buai after the funeral of Mr. Thong.

In page 193 we clearly sees that Suang U is missing the affection that his “father” was giving to him. “Before, I had father to talk to; now nobody cares to listen to me. I miss him so!” and then makes a note to the reader “I hope it isn’t bothersome for you to read these things, for your sympathy is more important to me than anything these depressing days” (p 198) This passage gives us the attention from the character that he wished to received from his missed “father”.

Later, he discovers that they know about his restaurant “How’s the restaurant business? – Hey, how did you know? It was supposed to be a surprise.” (p 194) And then, they get a little discussion about the little weight excess that she had. “Cook a little, eat a little… – Looks more like cook a little, eat a lot.” (p 194)

Suang U gets a visit from Kim during the day. She found U on his bed sick and talked to him for a little while. We have learned earlier that they were both from Po Leng, a small village. They know each other since a long time and have a good friendship. “It was good to see the old fool again. – As soon as you’re up and around, Suang U, we expect to  see you.” (p 195) This day, they were both not at work and are alone in Suang U’s room. During this time, even though I did not find a lot of hard evidence, I think that they may have been talking a lot more freely than normal and as “Marion” said in his analysis, “(They might not be able to talk about Mui Eng if the very same person was right there)”.

The end of this letter is probably warning us and making a foreshadowing of a quarrel that will take place letter on in the novel between Suang U and Mui Eng. Since the beginning of the novel, these too important personalities had never followed each other in therm of ideas and it is becoming clear now at the middle of the novel that they both think in different ways. Also, this progression of thinking has gone the same way as the way Mui Eng now look. “She sits in the mirror for an hour every morning, and for what? […] Her eyes look like little black worms perching above her fat cheeks. […] How could such a beautiful girl turn into such an unattractive woman?” (p 192) This passage clearly shows the non-attractive looking girl that became Mui Eng. Botan in this passage has been using some strong words that refers to the way she changed over this short period of time.

My Assignment by Boston Collins

Letter # 1
13 August 1945
In this letter Suang U starts off by respectfully stating that the letters are sent to his mother. Suang U says that the letters will arrive when he is already in Thailand but is writing while he is on the boat and that he will write to her every couple of days. Suang U tells his mother that he is seasick and that he was thinking of all the times back in his village. His memories were all about his mother and younger brother in the village he was in. The first letter tells the reader that Suang U is actually a runaway boy trying to follow his dream. He is going to Thailand because his friend Seng got a letter from his uncle telling him that it is easy to start a business in Thailand and with the earnings of the business he would have enough money to send home to his mother and also have enough left over to live off. The letter shows that Suang U truly loves his mother and as you can read he pleads for forgiveness. Suang U tells his mother about a nice man that everybody likes that is on the boat with him he has a square face and strong features. Later on Suang U and Yo Yuang Chau ( The Square Face Man ) have a talk on the freight deck about whether or not Suang U could read or write. Suang U tells Mr Chau that his mother taught him how to read and write back in the village, Suang U also mentions how his dad used to be a farmer before he died. Mr Chau then tells Suang U that he is very good at reading and writing also that he would write a recommendation to work in a book store. Mr Chau tells Suang U about how his wife and child died after the flood. Mr Chau then asks Suang U if he would like to be his adopted son, Suang U says yes and through out the book now calls Mr Chau his father but Suang U made it clear that he would always use his own Sae Tan. Suang U and Seng then get in a fight because Seng insulted Suang U’s new Dad. His “ father “ would often give Suang U many tips on how to survive in Bangkok. Suang U talks about the autumn festival Suang says that instead of paying respect for his ancestors he would wake up very early gather at an altar where they would pay there respect to the lord of the sea and the spirts of the ship. Suang U remembers back in Po Leng he would wake up early prepare the tea then he would pray alone at the family altar. He also tells us about his trip into town. Suang U concludes the letter with him asking rhetorical questions and tells us about how he has touched the bottom of the sea and they cant move until the morning and that the mosquitoes are going to be really bad.
In conclusion Suang U loves mother very much and is very excited to start his new life in Thailand. A lot has happened during the boat ride with a new man that adopts Suang U very quikly and a fight with Seng but still he has Kim.
Letter #2
25 August 1945
The next letter starts off by Suang U stating that himself and his friend Kim are safely in the house hold of Lo Nguan Thong which is in a Chinese neighbourhood called Sampheng Lane. He says that he will send letter 2 with letter 1 at the same time. Suang U confident about being a bookkeeper forgets about his friend Kim that was going to get work from Seng’s uncle but being a friend of Suang U canceled that out so Suang U asks his father about it. Suang U then tells us that they finally made it to Bangkok harbor where men, woman, old peoples and babies, and the boys like Suang U, Seng, and Kim all began shouting and running up and down the deck congratulating every one on the safe trip. Suang U tell us what happened that night were he ran away he says that he sat at a desk writing a letter for a long time changing it 10 times before it was right then he would tiptoe into the kitchen and place the note then tiptoe out of the house and start running towards town. Suang U then gets visited by his “ Father “ who tells Suang U that he has the day of and that is when Suang U asks his father if Kim can maybe get his recommendation as an errand boy for the bookkeeper the same place where Suang U is going. The letter ends by Suang U telling Kim to stop being a push over and him being happy to be on Thai soil. He is excited to see the treetops and temples and says “ I hope that I shall find peace and happiness here, and prosper in business. “
Letter # 3
26 August 1945
Suang U starts the letter by telling his mother about his new surroundings he tells her that he lives in a store with Nguan Thong, his wife and their two daughters. The whole building is devoted to the storage of incoming merchandise. The store is in the middle of a row of house were pretty much the same thing happens the neighbors have there own businesses as well. At the back of there house they have a canal. Business is conducted on the river like sweet selling and that sort of stuff. Suang U tells the reader about a small boat that sells noodles and how people go to the river with there own bowls where the vendor tosses a heap of steaming noodles into each bowl, garnishes them with peanuts, sugar, vinegar and pickeled vegetables. In conclusion Suang U sounds interested in his new life in Thailand and seems to have settled in quikly.

Maxime writes

Letters from Thailand analysis
This term in English we have been asked to read a book called letters from Thailand. This book is about a young Chinese man that leaves his country to go and start a new life in Thailand. The way that the author writes the story is very interesting and made me quite enjoy the book, he tells us the whole story troughs letters that he is sending to his mother to tell her about his new life. For m essay writing I have decided to talk about the letters 1-4 and their themes/ideologies .These first letters are really important because they introduce the book and the characters in it, and while they do that you can see that their way of thinking isn’t always the same as our common way of thinking.

These letters reminded me a lot of a theme that we studied earlier this year while reading “the great Gatsby, if you think about it the theme there is the exact same as “the American dream” except that in this case it’s the “the Thai dream” just like nick caraway from the great Gatsby Suang U leaves his country to go to a land of greater opportunities , that land is Thailand. Just like the American dream all the Chinese people that are travelling on the boat to Thailand are leaving everything that they had behind them because they believe that it’s worth it. Why? because they believe that once they get there they will have job opportunities and more chances to easily become rich and happy and be able to send money to their families .Some even left their lovers behind to pursue this dream .In letter #2 Suang U asks Kim why he left china to go to Thailand despite the fact that he had to leave his wife behind and that he now misses her, Kim then replies “because I’d like to have a piece of pork everyday too-you’re not the only one who wants to get rich in Thailand” this shows that he has left his wife for what I should call “the Thai dream” the Thai dream is the American dream version for the Chinese that don’t see America but Thailand as the and where anything is possible. Kim just like all the other young Chinese men on the boat believes that Thailand is a great land full of opportunities where everyone gets a fresh start a chance to get rich and gets to someday live the dream.

I find it interesting how Kim’s answer didn’t only say that he wanted to be rich but also mentioned that he wanted to be able to eat pork every day! In his letters the author talks a lot about the food. I think that it is because they didn’t have good food or weren’t able to afford it where they lived in china and that being able to have good food everyday to them is like a luxury and Is definitely a part of living the dream. In letter 3 suang U writes about the food that he had the food today was wonder full .Boiled chicken-the whole chicken too! Eggs, pork with vegetables, and enormous fried shrimps” he then says that he thought that it was a feast but that father then tells him that it’s just normal everyday food. This is a big change for him. and shows that he really appreciates the food part of his new life .But suang U isn’t the only one really enjoying it in his fourth letter he write about them having dinner and writes ”kims bowl was filled for a third time , and before long pork and shrimp and everything else had vanished from the serving plates ,most of it into his bulging stomach” Indeed it looks like kim is enjoying this new life style quite a lot !As you read the book a lot of really exquisite food gets described.

A thing that I found shocking to read during the book is the way that women were treated these days in these parts of the world .When the writer first shows it to us is when sung U writes in his 3rd letter ” don’t know if it’s because their protective or not but all men eat together ,boss and employees included ,and the woman eat whatever is left” his father then replies” the men work hard “ and “they need to eat first” .This shows that the Chinese living in Thailand at this time were really sexist and also relates to the question ”why do we often think that we are better than others”. In this context men think that they are better than women so therefore have the right to eat first and just leave them the leftovers. The men her think that they are better than the woman just because they work and women don’t .But perhaps if the men gave the women chances to receive proper education the women would be able to work just as well as the men , but they don’t !! in suang U’s 5th letter his boss asks his daughters why they fight over books instead of fighting over clothes like normal girls , one of his daughters then replies” she has hers and I have mine-what is there to fight about? There’s nothing else for us to do but read here. Now id you’d let us go to school–.” He then answers” enough”, “I shall not change my mind about sending girls to school , you can read and write already and that was a mistake. What more do

Letters to Thailand analysis

This term in English we have been asked to read a book called letters to Thailand. This book is about a young Chinese man that leaves his country to go and start a new life in Thailand. The way that the author writes the story is very interesting and made me quite enjoy the book, he tells us the whole story troughs letters that he is sending to his mother to tell her about his new life. For m essay writing I have decided to talk about the letters 1-4 and their themes/ideologies .These first letters are really important because they introduce the book and the characters in it, and while they do that you can see that their way of thinking isn’t always the same as our common way of thinking.

These letters reminded me a lot of a theme that we studied earlier this year while reading “the great Gatsby, if you think about it the theme there is the exact same as “the American dream” except that in this case it’s the “the Thai dream” just like nick caraway from the great Gatsby Suang U leaves his country to go to a land of greater opportunities , that land is Thailand. Just like the American dream all the Chinese people that are travelling on the boat to Thailand are leaving everything that they had behind them because they believe that it’s worth it. Why? because they believe that once they get there they will have job opportunities and more chances to easily become rich and happy and be able to send money to their families .Some even left their lovers behind to pursue this dream .In letter #2 Suang U asks Kim why he left china to go to Thailand despite the fact that he had to leave his wife behind and that he now misses her, Kim then replies “because I’d like to have a piece of pork everyday too-you’re not the only one who wants to get rich in Thailand” this shows that he has left his wife for what I should call “the Thai dream” the Thai dream is the American dream version for the Chinese that don’t see America but Thailand as the and where anything is possible. Kim just like all the other young Chinese men on the boat believes that Thailand is a great land full of opportunities where everyone gets a fresh start a chance to get rich and gets to someday live the dream.

I find it interesting how Kim’s answer didn’t only say that he wanted to be rich but also mentioned that he wanted to be able to eat pork every day! In his letters the author talks a lot about the food. I think that it is because they didn’t have good food or weren’t able to afford it where they lived in china and that being able to have good food everyday to them is like a luxury and Is definitely a part of living the dream. In letter 3 suang U writes about the food that he had the food today was wonder full .Boiled chicken-the whole chicken too! Eggs, pork with vegetables, and enormous fried shrimps” he then says that he thought that it was a feast but that father then tells him that it’s just normal everyday food. This is a big change for him. and shows that he really appreciates the food part of his new life .But suang U isn’t the only one really enjoying it in his fourth letter he write about them having dinner and writes ”kims bowl was filled for a third time , and before long pork and shrimp and everything else had vanished from the serving plates ,most of it into his bulging stomach” Indeed it looks like kim is enjoying this new life style quite a lot !As you read the book a lot of really exquisite food gets described.

A thing that I found shocking to read during the book is the way that women were treated these days in these parts of the world .When the writer first shows it to us is when sung U writes in his 3rd letter ” don’t know if it’s because their protective or not but all men eat together ,boss and employees included ,and the woman eat whatever is left” his father then replies” the men work hard “ and “they need to eat first” .This shows that the Chinese living in Thailand at this time were really sexist and also relates to the question ”why do we often think that we are better than others”. In this context men think that they are better than women so therefore have the right to eat first and just leave them the leftovers. The men her think that they are better than the woman just because they work and women don’t .But perhaps if the men gave the women chances to receive proper education the women would be able to work just as well as the men , but they don’t !! in suang U’s 5th letter his boss asks his daughters why they fight over books instead of fighting over clothes like normal girls , one of his daughters then replies” she has hers and I have mine-what is there to fight about? There’s nothing else for us to do but read here. Now id you’d let us go to school–.” He then answers” enough”, “I shall not change my mind about sending girls to school , you can read and write already and that was a mistake. What more do you need” this quote shows that their father is denying them the right of going to school and being able to learn just because of the fact that they are girls. He does so because he believes that men are better than women!

you need” this quote shows that their father is denying them the right of going to school and being able to learn just because of the fact that they are girls. He does so because he believes that men are better than women!

Arthur Analysis

Letter #5 Seventh month Month, Twenty-ninth Day
5th September 1945 Year of the Cock
Page 24-26

 

 

This letter was written by Suang U nearly 2 weeks he had came to Thailand, hoping he would find fortune and better life on the new land. Stressed out of having left his family back in china, looking to get them what they needed, and anxious to find out what will happen in his new life, Suang U leaves his past life behind, and heads off to Thailand to make his fortune. Suang U and his friend Kim were on their way to Thailand, to a job, where they were mostly accepted. But on the boat trip, to their future land, both of them meet up with an old man called Lo Nguan Thong. Suang U then gets adopted by that men, and is proposed a good job, for him and his friend at the old mans household. In this letter, we learn about how Suang U after having started working and fitting in, is now teaching both of Lo Nguan Thong daughter Chinese, with benefits him with his crush on one of the daughters, Ang Buai. In this letter we learn also how in Chinese families, how woman are taken as.

 

I think that in this passage, as we find out that Suang U is going to teach both of the daughters, we het from the beginning of the passage, the message, that Suang U is exited for tomorrow, because he will be teaching Chinese to both the girls, which apparently he as something special for one of them. I have chosen this passage, because it uses an interesting technique of structure. We are first introduced in the letter with a small introducing paragraph which tells us that Suang U as feelings for Ang Buai, shown by “I CAN barely eat or sleep for excitement. Starting tomorrow, I shall be spending a whole hour everyday with that girl, the face of the moon”. By using the expression of “The face of the moon”, Suang U describes the girl as a round and shining face, which is shown throughout the metaphor of the girl being really important. After that introducing paragraph, we have a flash back of the moment where Suang U as been given the opportunity to teach the old man’s daughter, and get closer to the one. The main character, trying to make his ‘father’ agreeing to make him teach the daughters learn Chinese, tells him, without losing respect from the old man, nor showing a sing of affection for one of the daughter, tells him ‘“it is up to you sir”, I said.” If you agree, I will be glad to help them.” I tried to look sincere but not too interested’. The fact that we came from present, where Suang U told us that he was in love with Ang Buai, to the past, where we then learn how and why did he manage to be that happy, shows us a precise explanation for all of those action and feeling shown throughout the passage. Then as we learn everything that as happen, we come back to the present with the last small paragraph, where Suang U repeats what he as said in the first paragraph of the letter. Before the old man agreed to the literature lessons, there was an argument, because Lo Nguan Thong thought that teaching girls was just a waste of time and that they were as most of the girl not suppose to be smart, but know how to be what women do best (working around the house).

 

In this letter, not only Suang U feeling is presented to us, but the argument with the father, whether Suang U should waste his time teaching his daughter, or if they were better off in the kitchen. “It is a waste of your time, Suang U—teaching literature to a pair of girls!”, in this saying of the father, we see that girls are less important than boys, and that girls should not need to be intelligent for whatever their future involves them in. This showed us that in that time when the letter was first written, girls mostly like lots of country in the world, even still in our days took boy in a more valuable way than girls. I think that in this letter, we also find out, why the old man adopted Suang U. When the old man says “I have no son, you know. It is a terrible disappointment—I don’t pretend otherwise. No one to carry on the business…”, this shows that boys are more strong and smart, looking toward the Chinese culture at the time, maybe even nowadays. To respect their family and all their ancestors, the name should be carried from generation to generation, and only boys have the power at marriage to take the name of the family and carry it on. Businesses are the same; they are followed from family generations, to family generations. And as each family carry on their culture, a boy is better than a girl looking toward the family reputation and fortune. And this is why Lo Nguan Thong which made to daughter adopted Suang U to keep the family honor and not disgrace his family.

 

To conclude about my letter 5 analyses, I will have to say that first of all, we have first been introduced to Suang U feeling towards one of ‘father’ daughter. We are than explained how did all that joy shown in the first paragraph, by using a flash back, which than brought us to the very moment in the past, and the reason why this as occurred to be Suang U big joy, which the reader is let unknown about any information about that ‘girl’. We are than seen on how boys are much more valued in Chinese families. We see hoe the old man thinks that girls are worthless to have and deserve to be in the kitchen, because the family honor of passing their name and business to generations to go, but girls are not able to follow that honor, nor name or business should be taken by a woman. We are than given with the opinion on why the old man adopted Suang U, maybe to carry on the family honor, who knows. I think that this letter as been well structured, for the reader to understand what is happening, in using a lot of different ways, to translate what is going on in that part and why.

Lodfi’s Post

Characterization of the protagonist:

The protagonist of the novel Letters from Thailand is named Suang U. He is a young man full of ambition and a dream of succeeding in life. He is originally Chinese, and lived in China until 1945 when he decided to seek success in Thailand. In 1945, China was negatively affected economically and socially due to their losses from the Second World War. It was a period where jobs were hard to obtain and life was hard. On the other hand, Thailand was growing vastly and was not affected from world war two.

Suang U heard that finding employment in Thailand meant a higher income and a more reliable job, so he decided to abandon his family and journey to Thailand. He left them a note promising that he would send them money and when he could afford to, bring them to Thailand too.

Suang U was educated by his mother as a child, which gave him tools used later on for him to get a job. He knew how to read and write in Chinese like a high school graduate would. He ends up marrying with his boss’s oldest daughter and then raises a family with her. His letters are written to his mother, which explain in detail what he is doing on his journey and what extraordinary events are going on at these moments in time.

The protagonist is a very brave individual as he left his home country during the closing of World War two. This is risky as he left his old life behind to begin a new one, in an unknown location. I admire his ambitions and strive for success, as they are similar to personal goals I have aimed for myself. I also admire Weng Khim his oldest son as he became similar to the protagonist. He was an overachiever, businessman and also liked to bend the rules like his father and myself.

Letter #5

September 1945

Seventh Month,

Twenty-ninth

Day Year of the Cock

This letter begins with Suang U explaining his excitement that he will begin to teach the two daughters of his boss. The main theme shown in this letter is sexist. Chinese woman in 1945 were not expected to obtain an education as they were simply married off to suitable families, which would provide protection and wealth, according to their social class. It is obvious that Suang U’s boss also known as, Thaokee or Nguan Thong, does not approve of Suang U educating his daughters, as he believes it is simply a waste of time. Nguan Thong, also believes his daughters are acting too much like boys and do not act as much as girls as they should. Going to school and getting an education, is considered a masculine activity, therefore, Nguan Thong was afraid of being judged for allowing his daughters an education, which is meant to be a males role. They are supposed to learn more about skills such as house cleaning and housewife’s related topics. This is shown on page 24 when Nguan Thong says, “These girls! Fighting over stories all day long. Why don’t they fight over clothes like other girls?” This quote demonstrates his feelings towards his daughters wanting an education (which in today’s world is fairly common, and significant no matter what sex you are). They fight over what a boy is supposed to fight over. The father would want them to be more female then they are. Another reference to the theme of sexist is his want of having a son more then a daughter. As previously said, sons are the ones who work and take care of their families, whereas the daughters usually get married off to suitable families. Females rarely provided an income, which allowed the family’s elders to rely on. Suang U ended up getting a son and three daughters too. His plan did not work out as planned, as his son was not as responsible and honorable. He brought prostitutes to his house (which ultimately stole his fathers money and escaped), he was troublesome and after his marriage to Rose, he only approached or saw his father when he needed money or help. In Chinese traditions, children must honor and respect their elders and his son did not do this.

Another theme shown in letter five is beauty. It is evident that beauty will not last as this is shown through his wife Mui Eng. At the beginning, Suang U describes her as, “the face of the moon”(pg. 24). The moon can be interpreted as internal beauty. He finally ends up marrying her and falls in love with her. In letter 46 it is evidence that she has lost her beauty as he describes her negatively. This is shown on page 192,”I wrote before that she was getting “plump”-but now! Her eyes look like little black worms perching above her fat cheeks….. those short fizzy curls around her flabby face, the white scalp showing the back of her round neck bulging out of her collar. I want to throw up. How can such a beautiful girl turn into such an unattractive woman?” This description of her physical appearance is significantly different to the initially comment. He calls her fat, plum and even says that she makes him want to throw up. As he says, “how can such a beautiful girl turn into such an unattractive woman?” (pg 192). This therefore proves that beauty in is not eternal. It is a temporary thing, which can be lost over time.

A different theme that I found interesting was theme of honesty. This theme was present several times through out the novel. It is present in letter five, as he lies to Nguan Thong about his educational background. He claims to have gone to school, when he actually hasn’t, his mother educated him. Even though he knew how to read and write, it was still important for employment to have a diploma or have an educational from school. School was prestigious back then, and not everyone could afford it. Especially not after war torn China. This was also shown later on through Weng Khim as he promised his parents that he would go to learn Chinese, when he actually discarded this idea and went drinking instead.

In conclusion this novel shows a large variety of present significant themes. These themes date back to a long time ago. The author explores themes such as inner beauty verse physical beauty, gender inequality, and honesty. In my personal opinion, Suang U has a very shallow point of view towards his wife as he only judges her according to her physical beauty and does not even consider her inner beauty. Gender inequality is present globally today. An example of this is in the Islam religion. Women are seen below me in the social status. Also another example of this could be looking at job. In sports women are less likely to get the same pay, and in jobs such as construction, it usually involves a team of me and not women. Also Chinese parents still favor having a son over a daughter, which is also present in the novel as Suang U wished a son more then a daughter. There are news reports currently of babies abandoned in the street due to their sex (being girls). Eventhough this is still a very sad truth, themes diplayed in the novel Letters from Thailand are still present in today’s world.