TANJONG RHU
BY MINFONG HO
AUTHOR’S PROFILE
• Minfong Ho was born in 1951 to Chinese parents in
Myanmar. She grew up in Thailand and studied at
Tunghai University, Taiwan. Then, she went to cornell
University, USA.
• She now lives in New York with her husband and 3
children
Synopsis
• This short story is about a successful man who
forgets his roots as a kampong boy in Tanjung Rhu
and only realises the importance and how much he
misses it after his mother`s death. The poignant
story demonstrate the cultural circumstances and
dilemmas about people face in Southeast Asia. It
also looks at the conflict., struggle and tension
between modem and traditional society in
Singapore through the relationship between
Mr.T.W.Li and his mother
Plot
• Exposition
Mr Li is 63 years old. He is a wealthy,
successful, modern businessman. He works in an
office locatede on the 18th floor above Shenton
Way. From his office window, he could see
Tanjung Rhu. He lives with his wife, Helen,
daughter, Ying and mother. His son is studying at
Cambridge University.
Plot
• Rising Action
One Day, Mr Li bought the binoculars for his
mother because she did not want to do the
operation for her cataracts. He told her that she
could see things in a distant and his mother
wanted to see Tanjung Rhu. He promised to
bring her to his office the next day.
Plot
Before going to his office, his daughter, Ying
quarrelled with his mother because she wanted
to help in the worship but the grandmother did
not allow her. This is because she did not know
the right way to do worship. After the
grandmother had complete the worship alone,
she followed Mr Li to the office.
Plot
• Climax
When they were at the office, Mr Li tried to
show his mother the big ships in the harbour
through the binoculars. However, his mother
saw young Mr Li walking barefoot on the beach
searching foe crabs and see herself was walking
beside him. After Mr Li took away the binoculars
from her, her smile disappeared.
Plot
• Falling Action
Mr Li`s mother became very sick and was admitted
to the hospital. She was so weak that she could hardly
open her eyes. When Mr Li visited her, his daughter
tried to force open the grandmother`s eyes. Mr Li
talked to his mother; she could only recognise him
but could not talk more. Then, she reminded the key
to the altar that was hidden in a special place.
Without knowing where the key was, Mr Li assured
her that the key was safe.
Plot
• Resolution
After her mother has passed away, Mr Li
needed the joss sticks to worship his parents.
However, he could not find the key to the altar
as he did not know where the key was. So he left
the altar room.
Characters
Mr Li
-Responsible
Mr. Li takes care of his old mother. When she
insist on worshipping his late father, he does
not stop her although he is late for work.
Characters
Mr Li
- Filial
Mr. Li is a filial son. He buys a pair of binoculars
for his mother so that she better and further.
Characters
Mr Li
• Rich and successful
Mr Li is a 63 years old successful businessman
in Singapore.
Characters
Ying
• Impatient
Ying is Mr Li`s daughter who is going to study
in New York. She argues with her grandmother
as she wants to help in the worship.
Characters
Ying
• Disrespectful
Ying tries to open her grandmother`s eyes
when she lies on the hospital bed. This makes
her father very angry .
Characters
Mr Li’s Mother
-Old
She is an old woman who has 9 children,34
grandchildren and 17 great grandchild
-Loyal
Mr Li’s Mother very loyal to her late husband
that she often worship him at the altar.
Characters
Helen
-Materialistic
Mr Li’s wife she enjoy a rich life by spending
time with her friend in the big house.She also
uses expensive perfume and eats expensive
food.
-Inconsiderate
She makes fun of her husband in front of her
friend for buying the binocular for his mother.
Themes
• Loyalty to one`s family
Mr Li`s mother is very loyal to her husband.
She worship him frequently. She keeps the small
wine, cups, gold sheets, candles and joss sticks
carefully in the top drawer of her special desk.
She does not forget her duty to serve her
husband even though he is dead.
Theme
It is norm for a Chinese family to show loyalty
to their family by worshipping the ancestors.
However, this practice has been neglected
gradually since the change of time. People today
are more materialistic then they are not
concerned with the spiritual things that can
bring them inner peace.
Setting
1. Mr Li’s big house
Mr Li had a big house with many vacant
rooms. He had a servant to help with the
housework.
2.Mr Li’s old house in a hut
Mr Li stayed in a hut at Tanjong Rhu when he
was young. He often saw the fishing boats
sailing
Setting
3.The Hospital
Mr. Li’s mother was admitted to the hospital
when she was sick. Lying in bed, she was tied
to machines which gave her blood or carry her
urine into a bag
4.Mr Li’s office
Mr. Li works in a towering building which was
on the 18th floor. He could see the ships at
Tanjung Rhu harbour and he counted the ships
everyday
Moral Value
1.We must be responsible to take care of the
old people.
-Our old parents have done a lot of sacrifices for
us, we should not neglect them when they are
old. We have to provide them the necessity as to
pay back their kindness.
Moral Value
2.We should respect the old people
-Though we might have different opinions and beliefs
with the old people, we need to accept their views and
respect them. We have to be patient when dealing
with them and show our filial piety.
3.We must be loyal to our family
-Family is the most important thing in our life. Even
though we are successful in life, we should not be
proud and forget our family. Money cannot buy
happiness. Therefore, our family should be focus in life
