STORY
1. Neighbours
by Tim Winton
Characters
A newly married couple: migrated
in Australia, the young man does household job, while his wife works in
hospital
Macedonian family : the family shouted most of the time,
but helps the young couple unconditionally
A Polish widower : spent most of his day
hammering nails, and helps the young couple unconditionally
Theme
It
is a story about a newly married couple living in a multicultural and
multilingual suburb neighborhood. It shows that cultural and linguistic
barriers cannot stop people from sharing love and compassion.
Summary
It
is a story about a newly married couple living in a multicultural and
multilingual suburb neighborhood. When they first moved in, the young couple
was suspicious of the neighborhood. The street was full of European migrants.
It made the newly-weds feel homesickness. Next door on the left lived a
Macedonian family and on the right, a widower from Poland. The newly-weds'
house was small, but its high ceilings and paned windows gave it the feel of an
elegant cottage. From his study window, the young man could see out over the
rooftops and in the park where they walked their dog. The neighbours seemed
cautious about the dog.
The
young man and woman had lived all their lives in the expansive outer suburbs
where good neighbors were seldom seen and never heard. The sounds of spitting
and washing and daybreak watering came as a shock. The Macedonian family
shouted most of the time. It took six months for the newcomers to comprehend
the fact that their neighbors were not murdering each other, just talking. The
old Polish man spent most of his day hammering nails into wood only to pull
them out again. His yard was stacked with damaged furniture.
Relations
were uncomfortable for many months. The Macedonians raised eyebrows at the late
hour at which the newcomers rose in the mornings. The young man sensed their
disapproval at his staying home to write his thesis while his wife worked. He
watched in disgust as the little boy next door urinated in the street. The
child's head was shaved regularly, he assumed, in order to make his hair grow
thick. In the autumn, the young couple planted vegetables. The young man
resented the interference, but he accepted his neighbors help to plant.
The
young man and woman built a henhouse, but it looked like it will fall down at
any moment then the Polish widower came and rebuilt it for them. They could not
understand a word he said. As autumn merged into winter, the young couple found
themselves smiling back at the neighbors. They offered gifts of various things
from the neighbors. The young man worked steadily at his thesis on the
development of the twentieth century novel. He cooked dinners for his wife and
listened to her stories of strange patients in the hospital. In the street,
they no longer walked with their eyes lowered. They felt superior and proud
when their parents came to visit and glance across the fence.
In
the winter they kept ducks, and in the spring the Macedonian family helped them
to butcher the ducks and up to this time the newcomers fully followed their neighbors'
behavior unknowingly. They had not planned on a pregnancy, which stunned them
to be made parents so early, because their friends did not have children until
several years after being married. Before long the young couple realized that
the whole neighborhood knew of the pregnancy. People smiled tirelessly at them.
The man in the shops gave her small presents of chocolates and other things. The
neighbors' women touched her belly, guess to be a boy and offer names and
knitted clothes with shoes and hats for the baby.
The
Polish man came over with barrowful of wood scraps for their fire. Labour came
abruptly. The midwife came and helped her finish the job. As the night
deepened, the young woman dozed between contractions, sometimes walking,
sometimes shouting. The young man rubbed his wife's back, fed her ice and
rubbed her lips with oil. And then came the pushing, he caressed and stared and
tried not to shout. The floor trembled as the young woman bore down in a squat.
He felt the power of her, the sophistication of her, and her strained. Then
with lots of pain she gave birth the baby boy. Seeing her pain during the
delivery and could not help her, the young man began to weep, because the
twentieth century novel had not prepared him for this. This story shows that
cultural and linguistic barriers cannot stop people from sharing love and
compassion.
Understanding the text
a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.
In
a multicultural and multilingual suburb, a newly married couple settles into a
small yet elegant cottage-like house with high ceilings and paned windows. From
the study window, they enjoy views of rooftops and a nearby park where they
walk their dog. The neighborhood is filled with European migrants, making the
couple initially feel homesick. The neighbors, including a Macedonian family on
one side and a Polish widower on the other, seem cautious about their dog.
Having grown up in the quiet outer suburbs, the couple is taken aback by the
bustling sounds of everyday life in this new setting. Despite their house not
being luxurious, it provides them with comfort and a sense of normalcy in their
daily lives.
b. How did the young couple recognize their neighbours in the
beginning of their arrival?
The
story revolves around a newly married couple settling in a multicultural
suburb. At first, they are suspicious and homesick due to the presence of
European migrants as neighbors, including a Macedonian family and a Polish
widower. The couple's background in quiet outer suburbs contrasts with the
bustling sounds and different customs in their new neighborhood, causing
initial discomfort and misunderstandings. The Macedonian family's loud
conversations create confusion, and it takes time for the newcomers to adjust
and realize their neighbors' harmless nature. The couple's differing daily
routines and the neighbors' reactions contribute to a negative impression of
their new neighborhood during the initial months.
c. How did the neighbours assist the young couple in the kitchen
garden?
In
autumn, the young couple planted vegetables with the help of their neighbors.
The Polish widower rebuilt their shaky henhouse, though they couldn't
understand his language. As the seasons passed, the couple found themselves
smiling back at the neighbors who offered various gifts, including seeds and
plants. In winter, they kept ducks with the Macedonian family's assistance in
butchering them. Unexpectedly, the couple became parents, surprising them as
their friends had children much later in their marriages. The entire
neighborhood knew about the pregnancy and showered them with smiles, small
presents, and kind gestures, while the women offered guesses and knitted
clothes for the baby.
d. Why were the people in the neighbourhood shocked at the role
of the young man and his wife in their family?
The
young couple's relationship with their neighbors was uneasy for several months.
The Macedonian neighbors disapproved of the young man staying home to write his
thesis while his wife worked outside the home. The neighbors were surprised by
this role reversal, as their traditional beliefs dictated that men should
handle domestic tasks while women worked to support the family. It took six
months for the newcomers to realize that their neighbors' loud conversations
were not signs of violence but simply talking. The cultural differences between
the couple and their neighbors led to initial misunderstandings and shock
within the neighborhood.
e. How did the neighbours respond when they learn about the
woman’s pregnancy?
The
young couple was taken by surprise with an unexpected pregnancy, as their
friends had children much later in marriage. The whole neighborhood soon
learned about the pregnancy, and everyone smiled and offered small presents and
well-wishes. Neighbors guessed the baby's gender and offered names, knitted
clothes, shoes, and hats. During winter, they kept ducks, and the Macedonian
family helped with butchering in the spring. The Polish man provided wood
scraps, and when the couple built a shaky henhouse, the Polish widower rebuilt
it for them. As the seasons passed, the couple found themselves smiling back at
the neighbors, who offered various gifts. When the woman went into labor, the
midwife and neighbors graciously offered help, presents, and support during her
pregnancy. The community's response to the pregnancy was filled with kindness
and care.
f. Why did the young man begin to cry at the end of the story?
During
the young woman's abrupt labor, the midwife arrived to assist. As the night
deepened, the young man supported his wife, rubbing her back, feeding her ice,
and offering comfort. Witnessing the intense pain and power of childbirth, he
was overwhelmed by emotions he was unprepared for, shedding tears of
helplessness. After the baby boy was born, he was moved by the concern, care,
and love of their neighbors, who gathered outside their gate, cheering for the
newborn. The young man's tears symbolize his gratitude for the love and
compassion shown by the community, transcending cultural and linguistic
barriers, and affirming that people can share love despite differences. The
story highlights the power of human connection and support in times of joy and
hardship. That's why he began to cry at the end of the story.
g. Why did the author not characterize the persons in the story
with proper names?
The
story follows a newly married couple in a multicultural neighborhood,
suspicious of their European migrant neighbors. Living uncomfortably for
months, the characters remain nameless, possibly serving as role models for
others. The tale conveys a message of unity, showing that people from diverse
backgrounds can peacefully coexist despite language and cultural differences.
As the world becomes more interconnected, the story highlights the importance
of helping new neighbors regardless of their origins, promoting love and
compassion that transcend cultural and linguistic barriers. The narrative
serves as a reminder that in our global village, we can all learn to embrace
and support one another.
Reference to the context
a. The story depicts that linguistic and cultural barriers do
not create any obstacle in human relationship. Explain with some examples
from this story where the neighbours have transcended such barriers.
Of
course, the story depicts that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create
any obstacle in human relationship. Here are some examples from the story
where the neighbors have transcended such barriers. In the autumn, the
young couple planted vegetables. The young man resented the interference, but
he accepted his neighbors help to plant. The young man and woman built a
henhouse, but it looked like it will fall down at any moment then the Polish
widower came and rebuilt it for them. They could not understand a word he said.
As autumn merged into winter, the young couple found themselves smiling back at
the neighbors. They offered gifts of various things from the neighbors. They
provided them some seeds and plants of vegetables as well.
In
the winter they kept ducks, and in the spring the Macedonian family helped them
to butcher the ducks and up to this time the newcomers fully followed their
neighbors' behavior unknowingly. They had not planned on a pregnancy, which
stunned them to be made parents so early, because their friends did not have
children until several years after being married. Before long the young couple
realized that the whole neighborhood knew of the pregnancy. People smiled
tirelessly at them. The man in the shops gave her small presents of chocolates
and other things. The neighbors' women touched her belly, guess to be a boy and
offer names and knitted clothes with shoes and hats for the baby.
Their
neighbors give the young couple advises on the kitchen garden, despite the fact
that they don't speak their language. An elderly Polish man's aid in
rebuilding their chicken house may be seen as selfless assistance from a
person. Their care, love, and respect for the young pregnant lady and
their joy at the baby's birth offer a wonderful example of a human connection.
Relationships between people transcend language and cultural differences. They
didn't speak each other's languages and shared a similar culture. After a time
of adaptation, the couple was able to successfully blend in. In fact, the story
demonstrates that language and cultural boundaries do not create a barrier to
human interactions.
b. The last sentence of the story says “The twentieth-century
novel had not prepared him for this.” In your view, what differences did
the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human relations?
The
story, 'Neighbours' is a story about a newly married couple living in a
multicultural and multilingual suburb neighborhood. When they first moved in,
the young couple was suspicious of the neighborhood. The young man and woman
had lived all their lives in the expansive outer suburbs where good neighbors
were seldom seen and never heard. Relations were uncomfortable for many months.
The Macedonians raised eyebrows at the late hour at which the newcomers rose in
the mornings. The young man sensed their disapproval at his staying home to
write his thesis while his wife worked.
They
had not planned on a pregnancy, which stunned them to be made parents so early,
and then the whole neighborhood knew of the pregnancy. People smiled tirelessly
at them. The man in the shops gave her presents. The neighbors' women touched
her belly, guess to be a boy and offer names and knitted clothes with shoes and
hats for the baby. The Polish man came over with barrowful of wood scraps for
their fire. In the winter they kept ducks, and in the spring the Macedonian
family helped them to butcher the ducks. The Polish widower came and rebuilt
henhouse for them. They could not understand a word he said. As autumn merged
into winter, the young couple found themselves smiling back at the neighbors.
They offered gifts of various things from the neighbors.
The
young man worked steadily at his thesis on the development of the twentieth
century novel. When her labor came abruptly, the midwife came and helped her
finish the job. As the night deepened, the young woman dozed between
contractions, sometimes walking, sometimes shouting. The young man rubbed his
wife's back, fed her ice and rubbed her lips with oil. And then came the
pushing, he caressed and stared and tried not to shout. The floor trembled as
the young woman bore down in a squat. He felt the power of her, the
sophistication of her, and her strained. Then with lots of pain she gave birth
the baby boy. Seeing her pain during the delivery and could not help her, the
young man began to weep, because the twentieth century novel had not prepared
him for this.
There
were significant contrasts between twentieth-century fiction and real
relationships, while working on his thesis on the 20th century novel, which
makes him shocked. At the end, it turns out that his conception of
twentieth-century novels was incorrect. He had never anticipated his neighbors
to come together in such a way before. The actions of migrants made him cry,
and he finally understood the importance of the idea of humanity. As a result
of the human connection, he began to understand the importance of living in a
community with other people. The twentieth-century book had not prepared him
for this, indicates that he has come to believe that the twentieth-century
viewpoint on immigration was incorrect.
c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbors are the companions for
wedding procession as well as for the funeral procession.” Does this
proverb apply in the story? Justify.
It's
true that the neighbors are the companions for wedding procession as well
as for the funeral procession in my community. It reflects the social harmony
and mutual relationship that the people have in the Nepalese community. Neighbors
are the companions for wedding procession as well as for the funeral
procession, without them are rare. It is almost impossible to conduct such
ceremonies without the help of neighbors in our society. Mostly villagers have
leisure life than the city people, where such ceremonies take as a festival or
share the grief by the entire neighbors, which is not limited to concerned
families only; it is the matter of the neighbors.
The
proverb, as mentioned in the question, is also applicable in this story as well.
It is a story about a newly married couple living in a multicultural and
multilingual suburb neighborhood. When they first moved in, the young couple
was suspicious of the neighborhood. The Macedonians raised eyebrows at the late
hour at which the newcomers rose in the mornings. The young man sensed their
disapproval at his staying home to write his thesis while his wife worked. Relations
were uncomfortable for many months. They even don't understand their languages
and cultural differences create the bitter circumstances between them and their
neighbors.
They
had not planned on a pregnancy, which stunned them to be made parents so early,
and then the whole neighborhood knew of the pregnancy. People smiled tirelessly
at them. The man in the shops gave her presents. The neighbors' women touched
her belly, guess to be a boy and offer names and knitted clothes with shoes and
hats for the baby. The Polish man came over with barrowful of wood scraps for
their fire. In the winter they kept ducks, and in the spring the Macedonian
family helped them to butcher the ducks. The Polish widower came and rebuilt
henhouse for them. They could not understand a word he said. As autumn merged
into winter, the young couple found themselves smiling back at the neighbors.
They offered gifts of various things from the neighbors.
When
her labor came abruptly, the midwife came and helped her finish the job. After
with lots of pain she gave birth the baby boy. Seeing her pain during the
delivery and could not help her, the young man began to weep, because his
bookish knowledge had not prepared him for this. In her delivery process, their
neighbors help them openly in every way. The young man didn't expect such kind
supports and helps from their neighbors, whose languages and cultures they
didn't understand and recognized. In the critical process of delivery and after
having a baby as consider a good moment in the both situation their neighbors
are with them. So, it comes true that the Nepali proverb of "Neighbors are
the companions for wedding procession as well as for the funeral
procession".
d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the
story. Why do you think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the
present world?
The
whole world became a global village, and in multiculturalism, where many
different ethnic, linguistic and religious groups lived together. Multiculturalism
allows people to truly express who they are within a society, that is more
tolerant and that adapts better to social issues. Multiculturalism is a
situation in which all the different cultural or racial groups
in a society have equal rights and opportunities, and none is ignored or
regarded as unimportant.
Multiculturalism
has become a major issue in the present world, so the author has dealt with an
issue of multiculturalism in the story. It
is a story about a newly married couple living in a multicultural and
multilingual suburb neighborhood. In the story, when they first moved in, the
young couple was suspicious of the neighborhood. The street was full of
European migrants. It made the newly-weds feel homesickness. Next door on the
left lived a Macedonian family and on the right, a widower from Poland.
Relations were uncomfortable for many months.
They
had not planned on a pregnancy, which stunned them to be made parents so early,
and then the whole neighborhood knew of the pregnancy. People smiled tirelessly
at them. The man in the shops gave her presents. The neighbors' women touched
her belly, guess to be a boy and offer names and knitted clothes with shoes and
hats for the baby. The Polish man came over with barrowful of wood scraps for
their fire. In the winter they kept ducks, and in the spring the Macedonian
family helped them to butcher the ducks. The Polish widower came and rebuilt
henhouse for them. They could not understand a word he said. As autumn merged
into winter, the young couple found themselves smiling back at the neighbors.
They offered gifts of various things from the neighbors.
So,
multiculturalism is simply the condition of the existence of multiple cultures.
Major problems with it are a language barrier and lack of communication which
becomes an obstacle in adaptation in a new environment or to create healthy
relations with different cultured people. Various factors, such as the way
people live, difference in languages, and many more, keep people apart. This
idea of diversity has a negative impact on people and leads to discrimination
in every field. Not all the migrants are
as lucky as the main characters in the story, but everyone should not forget
the humanity only then the world will be peaceful place to reside by the human
beings. Because today's world is a global village, our needs are not fulfilled
residing in only one place forever.
Reference beyond the text
a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.
In
our communities, the pregnant woman is surrounded by her relatives. It makes
her feel good and avoids her mental pain. The baby shower that is celebrated
before the birth of baby is also evolving in our society. People and relatives
offer them various presents and well wishes. When she gives birth to a child,
it is celebrated joyously. Children's birth in my culture is a ceremony.
Naming
ceremony of a newborn baby is the ceremony that is performed to give names the
child with pleasure and gladness, which is shared among family and community
members. The birth of a child is a joyous occasion for the whole family,
as well as close friends. The news of a baby's birth makes everyone in the
family joyful. Moreover, they mark this important event by singing, dancing, and
consuming delectable delicacies.
In
the six months, we celebrate the weaning ceremony, where we start to feed the
foods, especially rice. It is started because the breast feeding is not
sufficient for the baby, who needs foods as well. In this occasion, family and
community provides money and gifts to the baby and mother. Birthdays are
celebrated every year, especially to young babies up to the five years. It is
done because gifts are needed from the societies as well; sometimes the family
support is not sufficient.
The
mother and new baby are given new clothes. There is feasting and singing. The
whole family looks after the child. After being pregnant and give birth a child
and the mother can go home to visit her mother and family. The child is given a
good environment to make good relationship. Under the age of five the children
are looked after together to the pond to have a bath and feed together. They
play out of door with natural objects. They play with their relatives and sleep
with mother at night.
A
woman satisfies her members of family by giving a baby birth. Family members
are eager to see the child. They are happy to celebrate the birth of baby. The
mother is visited by her relatives and friends. She gets well treatment and is
looked after well. There are many ritual functions after the baby is born; such
ceremonies have helped to strengthen the relations in a society.
The
child is reared lovingly by the whole family in our communities. Child rearing
is a beneficial practice for the child and young mother. A young mother learns
the way to take care the child from her family. She gets some leisure time to
do her personal work. The baby is safe with his\her family member. If mother is
busy. Children's birth in my culture is a ceremony, where everyone from home or
community participates heartedly and happily.
b. Do the people in your community respond with similar
reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story? Give
a couple of examples.
Of
course, the people in our community respond with similar reactions upon
the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story. Even our society is also multicultural as
presented in the story. As the young couple, in this story, had not planned on
a pregnancy, which stunned them to be made parents so early, and then the whole
neighborhood knew of the pregnancy.
People
smiled tirelessly at them. The man in the shops gave her presents. The
neighbors' women touched her belly, guess to be a boy and offer names and
knitted clothes with shoes and hats for the baby. The Polish man came over with
barrowful of wood scraps for their fire. In the winter they kept ducks, and in
the spring the Macedonian family helped them to butcher the ducks. The Polish
widower came and rebuilt henhouse for them. They could not understand a word he
said. As autumn merged into winter, the young couple found themselves smiling
back at the neighbors. They offered gifts of various things from the neighbors.
In
our communities, the pregnant woman is surrounded by her relatives and
communities. It makes her feel good and avoids her mental pain. The baby shower
that is celebrated before the birth of baby is also evolving in our society.
People and relatives offer them various presents and well wishes. When she
gives birth to a child, it is celebrated joyously. Children's birth in my
culture is a ceremony.
Naming
ceremony of a newborn baby is the ceremony that is performed to give names the
child with pleasure and gladness, which is shared among family and community
members. In the six months, we celebrate the weaning ceremony, where we
start to feed the foods, especially rice to the new born baby. Birthdays are
celebrated every year, especially to young babies up to the five years. The
mother and new baby are given new clothes, there is feasting and singing. The
whole family looks after the child. After being pregnant and give birth the
child, the mother can go mother's home to visit her mother and family.
People
in our society are very responsive and cooperative. Pregnancy and childbirth
are both well-recognized events in our culture. Females are treated with
considerably more respect throughout the pregnancy and delivery. She receives
the attention and affection she deserves. Every member of the family wishes a
pregnant lady well. The baby's mother is warmly embraced by the whole
family. She gets well treatment and is looked after well. The child is reared
lovingly by the whole family in our communities. A young mother learns the way
to take care the child from her family.
Best of Luck
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