EVERYTHINGS ARRANGED by Siew-Yue Killingley

The story begin with a couple of lovers, Rukumani and Devanayagam, both studying at the same university, and were going back to their respective homes, where Rukumani is in Ipoh while her boyfriend, Devanayagam is in Lipis. At here, we can see the characteristic of Rukumani, which is being cautious. Rukumani understands the consequences (might be accused of making love) of being alone with Devanayagam (Deva) in secluded parts of the campus. Example of the text evidence that can show Ruku is a cautious person; Going to more secluded parts of the campus was even worse they would be accused of making love in quiet corners. In the end, they decide to sit in the public and take risk of being seen by family friends, or some of who might just casually mention to their respective families. On the second paragraph, here stated on a theme, which is generation gap between two generations (the older generations and the young generation). Here, stated that Rukumani is from a Ceylonese Indian background, where the older and the younger generations are different in their way of thinking. For example, the older generation thinks that university terms and school terms are the same; Like most people, her parents had the idea that terms at the university were like school terms that if she went back to stay at hostel, she would be open to all sorts of dangers and tempations Other than that, also stated here that the older generation believes that marriage is a spiritual thing and having the knowledge of sex before marriage will give young girls the wrong ideas; Marriage was such a spiritual thing, really, that if sex were brought into it, it would give young girls the wrong ideas, such as those of the Modern Girl. In addition, throughtout this short stories, we can see how Indians, especially the older generation, stick to their tradition, culture and taboos. Marriage is arranged by parents. Neither the man nor the woman to be married is consulted. They will only meet each other on the day they get married.; When we were young, our mother never mentioned the word marriage to any of my seven sisters until two days before they were to be married.; How dare you choose somebody for yourself in my youth we never looked at a man until we were married. Parents of the man and the woman meet, talk about their background, status and materialistic things such as dowry and so on and then fix the marriage between their children. In this short story, the representative of the mans family meets the family of the woman. It was unusual for the representative of the would-be groom to visit the family of the girl.In here it is obvious that both the young and old generation had a very different way of thinking and the older generation, which is Rukumanis parents are still holding strongly to the custom where marriage should be arranged by the parents and the bride have no choice to choose or to make choice but only accept and marry whoever that has been chosen for them.In addition,Ceylonese holds strongly to their custom where for them,the parents are the one who is responsible for their childrens life and marriage and the children have no right to make their own decision.

At the third, fourth, fifth and sixth paragraph, we can also conclude that Rukumani is quite attached or have a fill affection for somebody, in this case, to her boyfriend, Deva. She requested him to write her letters during the holidays. The textual evidence can be seen on these paragraph; This time you think you can write or not? Can send to Amys house, what. On the fifth paragraph, we can see that Ruku was a little piqued (means feeling annoyed of bitter feelings that you usually have because your pride has been hurt; a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, esp. to one's pride) when Deva said he would try writing to her despite of the risk. Evidence can be found on paragraph four and five; See ah, my sisters, brothers all, running all over the house... That clerk at the post office can see me. Hes a joker, so sure tell my father I send love letters. But still, try lah! Furthermore, Ruku insisted Deva to write to her even when Deva thinks that writing letters is an extra thing to do when Ruku already know that he loves her. Textual evidence is found on paragraph six and seven; Dont think Im so hard up ah, since I suffer for you, at least you should write to me when youre free.; Also, if you know that I love, then should be sufficient what; what for want to write the whole time? Rukumani is also considering as a daring character. This can be seen in the text where she willing to take the risk of being caught red-handed by asking Deva to write letters to her, be in a relationship before marriage and disclose her relationship with Deva even though that she know it is forbidden by her family members and due to the Ceylonese tradition. In addition, we can also see that Devayanagam is also a daring character, besides Ruku because he also might be caught red-handed by his siblings and the public for writing love letter to Ruku and be in a relationship before marriage. On the paragraph where Rukumani board the train and encounter the Chinese woman and her children, we can also conclude that Ruku is a generous person. She is willing to offer help to those who needed and choose to endure her anger even though she is being insulted badly. Evidence showing her generosity; Seeing that the woman seemed rather harassed about her children, who were spilling all over two seats, Rukumani smiled at her and edged nearer to the window so that one of the children could come and share her seat. Patiences are shown in Rukus characteristic when shes being insulted killing mui by the Chinese woman and after the insult Ruku took no further notice of the woman and her litter. Here, comes in a new character named Johnny Chew. He is Rukumanis classmate, as well as mutual friend of Ruku and Deva. We can indentify his personality or characteristic by some description and textual evidence provided. Firstly, he is a brilliant student. The evidence can be seen where the author explained his characteristic; Johnny Chew, who was regarded with respect as the walking economics bible. Not only did he know all the impressive technical terms used by overpowering economists like Benham, Hanson, and Keynes, he also remembered and often used in his essays economic terms coined by the lecturers, thereby earning their respect and a reputation as a dedicated scholar. He is also friendly. He spoke to Ruku when he is on the way to the lavatory; I say! Diden know you also on this train. If not, sure I come and keep you accompany, man.

Train journey boring like hell. Other than that, he also can be seen as a respectful person. Johnny shows his respect to Rukus father by greeting him; Hello, uncle, he hailed most heartily, your daughter and myself were having a most interesting talk. At this point, where Johnny greeted Rukus father, we can notice a little personality and know what kind of Rukus father is. His name is Mr. Sambanthan, and we can see that he is a very protective person. He asks details of Rukus friend; Who is that young chap?, You know where his father working?, The respectability of Johnny thus settled. Well, for me, it seems that Rukus father is being cautious and annoying, rather than protective. In the paragraph where Rukumani is back to her home in Ipoh, at Lovely housing estate, several supporting characters are introduce to us by the author via third person view, or omniscient. We, as the reader is told what is happening, as well as what characters feel and think. We are taken into the minds of several different characters in the story at any one time. So, we can safely conclude that this short story is from a third person point of view. Rukumani had a younger sister called Baby by the rest of family as well as by other people who were not in the family, but who knew them rather well. Her real name is Susheela, and shes approaching her eighteenth year and was preparing to enter university. Rukumani also had younger brother of twelve-called Boy, although again, he too had another name, Nadarajah. He is the familys favorite and enjoyed being indulged in unconcealed tale bearing. He also is a person that cannot keep secret and irritating. He is a person who make unnecessary complaints or statement to his parents and has caused Ruku in trouble Textual evidence can be seen in the paragraph; Rukumani was not quite sure she could trust Baby with her secret, but she knew for certain that Boy knew about it, her parents would be upon her in no time. In addition, the tiny house where Rukumani stayed also housed her grandmother of her fathers side, who always held degeneracy of young girls nowadays. Also, included Rukumanis mother. She shows us that she is quite a control-freak and wanted to impress Rukus grandmother that she is able to control her daughters well by instructing Ruku and Susheela to do things. In addition Rukumanis mother is the one who makes all the decision and instructs and tell things to Rukumanis not her father.This is because in Ceylonese custom,mother is responsible to do the talking and take care of daughters. Other than that, in a paragraph where Rukumani was taking her dinner and her mother was in the kitchen with her, we can see that the small gathering in Rukumanis house earlier was to arrange a possible match making for Rukumani. In the text written; she also reminded Rukumani of her duty to her family in setting good example to Baby, and, when she was married, she was to be sure to coax her husband to live in Ipoh and not in his home town, where his family would surely eat up all his income, grasping wretches that they were. The pronoun she refers to Rukumanis mother. We can see that Rukus mother is person who think about the future and also a cautious person. We also can conclude that Rukus mother is rather a selfish person and did not consider the well being of her daughter, as well as her feeling in the first

place.But then again the thing that we should consider is the Ceylonese custom where that is how things are done.The parent take the decision and they are very careful not to expose their young ones especially the girls to the social world because they are worried that it will make their daughters look cheap and thus it would be hard to marry them of and the dowry would be higher directly proportional to her reputation.She decided everything and arranged a match making without Rukus consent; what Baby told her confirmed her fears as she realized that her patents, especially her mother, had been making arrangements for a long time, and that this proposed match was no mere whim of her mothers. Rukus mother also likes to show off. This can be seen when she brought Ruku for shopping in Johns Little. She let drop statement to the shop-girl by telling that; My daughter need this to go back to M.U. when long vac over. This sometimes earned her some respect, but at other times, did not create a stir. There is once where Ruku decided to write to the papers and her letter appeared in the Auntie Sally column together with Auntie Sallys reply. At here, we can see that Auntie Sally is being bias. In her reply stated; But look at you! Have you no sense of shame and gratitude? I do feel sorry for your poor parents who have suffered to send you to the university, and this is your way of repaying them, with ingratitude, deceit, and shameless behavior. You are too young to think of boy friend count your blessing and accept you parents choice of a husband for you. Mother knows best! At here, we can see that Auntie Sally is quite bias with her answer and favorable to the mother or parents side of thinking. She didnt consider Rukus feeling and step in her shoes to feel what Ruku is facing. During the part where Ruku wanted to go to her friend house to study, we are being introduced another character by the author. The supporting character is Amy, Rukumanis friend. She is seen as an impatient character. Amy couldnt stand it when Ruku wanted to prolong the pleasure of anticipation by just looking at the letter. After Amy had given Ruku the letter, Rukumani wanted to prolong the pleasure of anticipation by just looking at the letter for some time, but Amy became rather impatient with her and at last grunted, Open man! What for want keep on staringstaring? After Rukumani had opened the letter, by analyzing the letter, we also can conclude that Deva is a romantic person. He addresses Ruku with a sweet calling and writes romantic phrases to express his love for Ruku. Rukumani did at last open the envelop and took out her love letter. Dearest Darling Ruku, it began. ; I wonder whether you are thinking of me as often as I am thinking of you. This thought occurs to me often, especially when the moon is full. It is a universal symbol of our love, the spiritual moon We can also see that Deva is a cautious person. He told Ruku not to write to him as he made his parents and uncle angry due to his action of wanting to choose a lover for himself and did not want to marry a girl of his parents choice. I have hinted very strongly to my mother, father and uncle that I may want to chose somebody myself, and this made them angry, so Im keeping quite for a time. Please do not write to me or I shall get into trouble.

In a paragraph where Johnny came to visit Ruku tells us more in this short stories. During the part where Boy ran into the house as Ruku was drying her long hair shouted, Ama! Akkas boy friend come. Both Rukumanis mother and grandmother were horrified and quell Boy; you keep quiet Boy! You too young to know such things. You go out and play. This shows that relationship before marriage is strictly forbidden, as well as a taboo for the Ceylonese Tamil. At here, we can conclude that Johnny is also a carefree and open-minded person. He doesnt mind sitting a little closer and pays a visit to Rukus house. He also dont mind talking about his girl friend and how he wanted to take picture with them without gossipers talking. He is also a sweet-talikng person. He praised both Ruku and Baby; Hi, Ruku, you look cute in that, cute little thing ah, your sis! Johnny is also described as a sharp-minded person. When he accidentally talked about Deva in front of Ruku, Ruku hurriedly told Johnny not to talk about Devanayagam and he caught her mood of urgency and changed the subject. After Johnny had left, Rukus mother started; Young people nowadays have no shame. My mother would have sent me out of the house if I had entertained a boy friend as freely as that. All that whispering, what will the neighbours think? in this text, we know that the older generation thinks that it is very shameful for a girl to chat or whisper with a young man. It also shows that Rukus mother is a small minded person, who still stuck with old traditions of the Ceylonese Tamils and thinking; A Chinese boy coming to whisper with my daughter. Do the Radakrishnans next door allow their daughters to run wiild? Do you ever see a strange boy visiting the daughters of Tharmaratnam? But my daughter is different, she wanst to be modern and be seen with all sorts of men. Why do you want to make me suffer in my old age?... youre driving me to my grave!. Other than that, in the paragraph where Mr.Sambanthan was told by his wife about his daughters action (Rukus action of whispering to Johnny), he showed an emotional side of himself (an emotional person).In this part again he resembles the Ceylonese custom where they do not directly talk to their daughters but the wife is their messenger. He refused to eat and started to cry. He accused his wife of not teaching her daughter morals a in their culture,the responsibility to educate an teach the girls are the mothers responsibility not the fathers. The wife or Rukus mother, offered to commit suicide; mr. sambanthans mother, who was silent for a long time, suddenly announced that she would either leave the house and beg, or kill herself if the family were disgraced by Rukumani. At this, Rukumanis mother, not to be outdone, offered afresh to kill herself either by hanging herself or swallowing poison In this context, there is verbal irony, which is the contrast between what is said and what is meant. In other words, sarcasm. In addition, the context above tells us that the Ceylonese Tamils have an immature minds and thinking especially the older generation as well as showing their stupidity upon their action. It tells us how smallminded the Ceylonese Tamils can be and the tradition that they practice is quite ridiculous. But then at that time for them all that matters is following the custom and living in especially for the older generation.

Devanayagam felt guilty for Rukumanis devotion as he himself had encountered the same situation but he agreed to marry the girl chosen by his parents as long as they do not bother his studies .He felt guilty and he wants to be free from all the trouble bothering him but at the same time, he doesnt want to break his relationship with Rukumani nor disobey his parents. As the custom is taken into account ,the only thing that he managed to know about the arrangement made is that the dowry would be $80,000 ,a house,a plot of land ,and his bride would be a BA by the time .Rukumanis parents are in great dilemma whether to send Rukumani back to University or not. If they send her back, they are positive that she is going to do something shameful to the family and if they do not send her back, their ambition to see Rukumani becoming a BA would be destroyed and either way, there is possibilities that the bridegrooms side will find it out and cancel the wedding or increase the dowry. Then many of her relatives pay a visit to her house to give advises and help her parents to decide what to do and finally they have decided to increase a dowry by $20000 that worth as they a not ready to risk the family disgrace as they decided not to send Rukumani back for her final term.They have talked with the bridegrooms family and the news was announced to Rukumani and she has decided that its the time to reveal her secret love with Devanayagam and she did so and named him as her lover.She expected her family to be forgiving as he is a Ceylonese but nothing happened as she wanted .Her mother starts to cry and asking her how dare she was to choose someone for herself by herself and she started to tell her she was when she wa s at Rukumanis age. Rukumani tried her best to defend herself saying that she did not do anything wrong.Then the both family had a meeting again and they were surprised as Devanayagam had a secret lover too.Then, Devanayagams father wrote him a very stern letter saying that he is very disappointed and both his parents are broken hearted with what he has done and revealed that Rukumani is the girl chosen by them for him but they have decided that she is not worth to be his bride anymore .In addition he said that this a punishment and reminder for Devanayagam that he should let the elderly do all the arrangements when it comes to marriage.His father ended the letter with saying that the whole family is grieving. Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature ,in the sense of it is universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language which we can recognize ,identify, interprete, and or analyse. To consider the elements of a short story we need to understand the various literary devices that an author may use. These literary devices guide our interpretation and help us to better understand the storys complexities and overall meaning. They are irony, symbol, flashback and foreshadowing. The theme for this short story would be arranged marriages that are highly considered and respected by the Indian and Ceylonese families. It is considered as a dignity and a symbol of family honour.This can be seen by the effory put by Rukus father especially after John appearance where they willingly destroyed their dream to see Ruku graduate but instead marry her off with the man chosen by them with an increase in dowry in addition.All this attemot is just to make sure Ruku marriage would be a arranged marriage and save their dignity.

When we talk about irony, there are several types of irony in a literature including irony, dramatic irony ,and situational irony. Dramatic irony is the contrast between what the character thinks to be true and what we (the reader) know to be true. Sometimes as we read we are placed in the position of knowing more than what one character knows. Because we know something the character does not, we read to discover how the character will react when he or she learns the truth of the situation. Her parents arrangement for her marriage. For example, dramatic irony is when Devanayagam reads the letter he received from Rukumani where she tells him about. Situational irony is the most common in literature. It is the contrast between what happens and what was expected (or what would seem appropriate). Because it emerges from the events and circumstances of a story it is often more subtle and effective than verbal or dramatic irony. This is when Rukumani tells about her secret love and hoped her parent would be relent as Devanayagam is a Ceylon Tamil but turns out to be bad. Foreshadowing is a writers technique in which the author provides clues or hints as to what is going to happen later in the story. Its like the music in a scary movie when we know that something bad is about to happen. This is when Johnny goes to Rukumanis house to talk with her. Johnny thought that everything would be fine as he introduced himself as her friend but still Rukumanis parents had the wrong idea. Dialogue, is when where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for exposition .For instance when Rukumani and Devanayagam were talking before going back to their respective hometown. Moral value is the lessons learnt in the story. The first lesson is the importance in preserving our family tradition as long as the tradition is eligible. Only if Rukumani and Devanayagam did not fall in love and created a big chaos and problem for both of their family, they would end up as husbands and wife. The second lesson would be do not rush when you make decision. This is when Rukumani and Devanayagam told their family about their secret love .The third lesson would be family dignity, eventhough they force us to do something that we do not agree or like but we should not do something drastic decision that brings shame to the family.

FACULTY: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION(TESL) SEMESTER: 2(2011/2012)

COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE LECTURERS NAME: DOCTOR AINON OMAR COURSEWORK: SHORT STORY ANALYSIS NAME: ANNAMAL SHERAN A/P SANTHANASAMY MATRICS NO.: D20111047713 NAME: CHAN SIANG JACK MATRICS NO.: D20111050119 GROUP:B