6 Essay questions from Unravelling Offcentre

Q1: In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end?
In my opinion, the parent-child relationship is key to Vinod's inevitable end is to a certain extent. Vinod and his parents are not on very good terms and this can be seen from the fact that Vinod's parents does not appear in the play at all. From this, it shows that Vinod's parents' existence to his life is very small and except for the fact that they want him to go to university, they don't really care much about him. All they want out of him is his intelligence. They only care about his results. They don't care about his health at all. "..." From this we show that they do not show concern over Vinod's health. Even after they know that Vinod has mental illness, they dont do anything to help. What every parent-child relationship that should be present is the presentation of love and concern. Vinod want's that very much. But he does not get it, therefore it led to his inevitable end.
However, it is not entirely because of this that led to Vinod's inevitable end. It is also due to society. Vinod wanted to fit in to society very much. "Who else would hire a person who is fine today and has a breakdown tomorrow?" (Act 5 Scene 1 / pg 121) This explains why Vinod felt like he didn't belong anywhere. When he was working for Mr Chow, he was only using Vinod as a free worker. Vinod confronted him but Mr Chow did not care. It was a sign that society did not want him in. When he failed to achieve that, it led to his downfall. The fact that he could not fit in to society was a dealt a very big blow to him. Which is what led to his ultimate downfall.
Therefore, the parent-child relationship is key to Vinod's inevitable end is only to a certain extent.

Q2: "Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall" To what extent do you agree with this statement?
I agree with this analysis to a certain great extent. Due to Vinod's high expectations of himself, he wanted the best when he does things. When there is high hope, there will be much disappointment. Vinod expected alot from himself. So, when Vinod failed to achieve what he wanted to achieve, he was disappointed. Perhaps, it is because of Vinod's mental illness, which is depression, that caused him his downfall. Vinod's high expectations and failure to achieve it was a great blow to him. He felt that since he cannot do anything right, he cannot fit in to society. Therefore, i agrree with this statement that Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.

Q3: Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.
The reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play is due to society, Vinod and Emily.
Society did not allow any place for Saloma to fit in. Everything that Saloma does, she feels that there are people staring and looking at her. "OK, not them, but their brother, their sister, their children, father , mother, friend. Maybe they never say, but they also never scold people who say." Saloma feels that society condemns the offcentre. She feels that because of it, she cannot fit into society, which is why she is mental.
But it is because of Vinod and Emily that helped Saloma to change into someone stronger. Although Vinod does not believes Saloma when she says she hears voices in her head, Vinod still helps Saloma indirectly. It is because of Vinod that Saloma became stronger. She learned to do things herself. Even when Vinod told Saloma not to eat the medicine, she still ate it. "..laughing is therapeutic. It's better than taking all those pills." Vinod wants Saloma to not eat the medicine because to Vinod, the medicine makes him feel self-conscious. But Saloma did not listen. She heed her own words instead of listening to what Vinod tells her to do.
However, the factor that contributed the most to Saloma's transformation in the play is Emily. "No, you are strong. Say it. I am strong. Nothing can destroy me." It is this mantra that Emily said to Saloma that helped Saloma. Emily told Saloma this to make her feel better. When Saloma was talking to Vinod and Vinod said something to Saloma said the mantra and it helped her to feel better.
Therefore, the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play is society, Vinod and Emily.


Q4: "Though a minor role in the play, the character Razali is the key to the plot of Offcentre." To what extent to you agree with this assesment?
Razali being a real character has brought much controversy. Some say that Razali is but a figment of imagination while others feel that he is real. I agree to Razali being the key to the plot to a certain extent.
Although Razali does not have a major role in the play, speculations about him being real or fake may be one of the factors that is in the plot. The role of Razali is to explore the thinking of Vinod and Saloma. Much of Vinod's needs and wants is reflected from Razali. Vinod wanted love, attention and he wanted to be someone who could protect Saloma. All of this is in Razali. Saloma sees Razali as a fatherly figure. Vinod sees Razali as a fatherly figure. In Act 2 Scene IV(page 78), for some reason, Razali appears in Vinod's room and Saloma could also hear what Razali is saying. "You keep thinking and thinking" What Razali is saying is something from Vinod's mind. Saloma is answering to Razali but they are the answers for Vinod. This may be the reason for the controversial speculations as to whether Razali is real or fake.


Q5: "Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyata." means to "Give, Sympathise, Control" How did the major characters in the play exert control in their environment and/or their life? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Saloma,who is a major character in the play, exerts control in her life. Even though Saloma's mother, Mak, and Vinod tried to make Saloma not take her medicine, Saloma did not listen.

Q6: Based on the text Offcentre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.
Peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status because everyone needs to be accepted by their peers in order to feel that they can fit into society. Being accepted by friends is the first step to being accepted by society. Peers are the ones we face everyday.
Based on the text Offcentre, Vinod was not accepted by his friends. When his friends knew that he had mental illness, they shunned and avoided him like he caught the plague. "Well, it would have helped if some of my friends called once in awhile.. if ONE of my friends called. Johnson tells his family he's not in whenever i call. I know." It is because of this that Vinod felt like he didn't belong. It was why he doesnt want to continue his studies even though he could have gotten to university easily.
Everyone needs family support in whatever they do. Family should be the thing that we know we can always fall back on and that they will be there for us. Always.
But for Vinod's case, he did not care any family support. It was also the reason that led to his downfall. All he needed was his family's care and concern. Compared to Saloma, who had the support of Mak, Vinod got the shorter end of the stick. Even though Mak persuaded Saloma not to eat the medicine, it was only because she believed in more superstitious things. It wasnt because that she did not care. She also asked Saloma to pray to rid of the evil (it was what she believed). Through this, Saloma felt supported. She did not feel abandoned.
Therefore, peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental-well being.

Quotes from Island Voices

1) Paper
"It burned brilliantly, and in three minutes was a heap of ashes on the grave." - pg 9
"He wanted a beautiful house all his life; I shall give him the beautiful house now!" - pg 8

2) The Matyrdom of Helena Rodrigues
"Well, Helena had the meek gentle face of a nun and the force of personality of an Empress Tzu Hsi." - pg 12
".."she brought him up to believe that to insult his mother's devotion to him was the ultimate blasphemy." -  pg 13

3) Sundowner
"It's the children I think about most, Jhn. The coolies spend all their money on drink and the children are just skin and bone and riddled with disease." - pg 25
"Yes, tuan. Whatever the tuan says." - pg 22

4) Tanjong Rhu
"I know I have everything I need." - pg 30
"The veins seemed thicker and greener on her fists, pulsing desperately." - pg 37

5) Evening under Frangipani
"...jostling with teenagers on parade, the sharp scent of glue in their decaying minds." - pg 53
"Treats, treats, that's all you Singaporeans ever think about." - pg 72

6) Lee
"..what's saddest is the way you get these big concrete office blocks owned by ITT or something standing next to this zinc hut where you see a guy in the doorway selling a tent." - pg 90
"Hey, I'm on hiatus from conventions." - pg 91

7) A History of Tea
"A storm n the teacuo." -  pg 119
"Then she would pour another cup for herself, filling it from the kettle kept hot on the small stove of burning charcoals." -  pg 121

8) A Dream of China
"Without the human experience of your forefathers before you it is hard to build a strong future." - pg 127
"A country is only as good as it's men. My father is a good man ... whichever country can claim him as it's own." - pg 138

9) Release
"Everyone's having new babies. Our bitch has got four." - pg 142
"She sat down, blinded by the scream that filled her mind." - pg 148

10) An Orbituary for Fifth Aunt Come Late
"She was my aunt but I didn't make it a point to be her niece." - pg 149
"We don't have a photograph of her." - pg 161

11) Corridor
"Which means also to say that the man could have been killed any time at all." - pg 167
"And like an answer or a question the warm amber lights in her living-room came on." - pg 175

12) Mid-Autumn
"It's a calling from God. It's a fire in my bones. If I don't go, I'll just burn and die." - pg 186
"I don't want her to treat me like her lantern. The lantern made her shout, clap , dance. But when she lost the lantern, she said, "Forgte it, never mind." She once said I was her best gift. But now that she has left me, what will she say?"

13) Hamid and the Hand of  Fate
"..it's not wrong to accept gifts if people show you they are grateful for your help, right?" - 198
"Young women these days ought not to be trusted." - 202

14) The Move
"Too bad the pomegranate has grown so big." - pg 205
"Remember how Melissa and I would wait forever for the first pomegranate of the year to turn red? Did you really have this since we were born?" - pg 206

15) Pastime
"Then one day --  just like that -- they decide to release him. You don't matter anymore, they tell him. You're history." - pg 214
"It's a hobby, a pastime. It's not real life." - pg 220

5 memorable quotes from Off Centre

1) "We only hurt ourself." - Act Two / Scene IV ; page 78

2) "Whatever lah, as long as I'm not plain like everyone else. DH Lawrence said that as long as you lead a full life it doesn't matter if it's happy or sad, long or short." - Act Two / Scene III ; page 64

3) "Who needs the Singapore education system? Life is too precious. Go to the beach. Go for a swim. Get your own books. Teach yourself. Make a difference." - Act Two / Scene I ; page 53

4) "Everything is so void. Who are we trying to avoid?" - Act Two / Scene III ; page 63

5) "Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Give. Sympathise. Control. To live is to give -- no strings attached. Sympathise -- not with yourself but with others... others who are blind. and in this country, there are many. Finally, control. We must accept what life offers, but we must also take control of it's course." - Act Four / Scene I ; page 103