Singapore

Place
Mr. Li's office at 18th floor above Shenton Way
Split between traditional and modern values and beliefs
Calls his mother 'Ah-Ma', name his daughter 'Ying'
Tanjong Rhu
Settings
Mr. Li Proud of modern life that he has built but still keeps traditions alive
Goes back and forth
Time He bought binoculars for his mother to allow her to see better
Present time (after Ah-Ma's death)
He made sure that his mother's burial was done the proper way
Past time (before Ah-Ma's death) A filial and loving son
He decides to take care of the altar room as his mother would want him to

He pushes his mother to give him back the binoculars

The conflict between traditional
and modern values and beliefs Themes Impatient
Mr. Li: a typical Chinese, adopted modern lifestyles (name), has a servant
and a driver, big house with a pool, sends his children to study abroad.
Treasures family
Misses his childhood, a filial son
Ah-Ma remembers the when she was poor but happy when she was close to her son
Ah-Ma: follows worshipping practices
Characters & Characteristics Takes care of the family altar
Ying: addresses her grandmother in a traditional way, does not strictly follows
Makes sure that the ancestral worship customs are followed properly
the rules of the altar
Traditional
Mr. Li: guilty and has a sense of regret after Ah-Ma's death, inherited his wealth Insisted on using real candles
and not earn it Stubborn
The importance of remembering one's root Refuses to go for an eye-operation to remove her cataracts

Rears chickens in the gardens

Prefers the simple life Tells her son that she has everything and does not need the things he can buy
Respect for elders
Mr. Li is a modern thinker but still teaches her daughter to be respectful to elders
He himself treats his mother well and tries to please her Moral Values
Split between traditional and modern values and beliefs Calls her father and grandmother by their traditional Chinese address;
Be appreciative - do not take parents for granted because they are not going to speaks in cantonese
live forever
Family love Tanjung Rhu Does not see the importance of following traditions properly and keeps
Families should have time for one another Ying telling her grandmother that it doesn't matter
Mr. Li, his wife and his children cannot be described as close or united
Concern about her father as his food was getting cold; worried that her father will be late
He dislikes his wife's social gatherings and he lies to her about the binoculars She takes care of her ill grandmother in the hospital; donates blood to her grandmother
Loving and caring
He is also worried to be seen by his family carrying out the rituals of ancestral
worship the lack of closeness is in part the cause of Mr. Li's feeling of emptiness argues with her grandmother
Third person limited POV Strong-headed
argues with her second aunt over the burial clothes for her grandmother

POV argues with her father in the hospital

Simple and direct
Language & Style The writer only reveals only the
main character's thoughts to us Help her grandmother with the ritual at the family altar
Tells us what the protagonist is thinking about Helpful
Flashback

Imagery - perfect backdrop for emotions at play

Altar is the line between life and death Reserved and sombre;
Literary Devices love and warmth
Eyes like colourless stones Tone & Mood
Similies
She has eaten more salt than you have
eaten rice
Proverb