MALAYSIAN SHORT STORY Pictures in My Mind - Pretam Kaur

This is an analysis on the short story by Pretam Kaur, Pictures in My Mind. This story might be confusing for first time readers as it contains snapshots of memories of a girl named Sunita, which revolves mainly around the relationship with her father. Growing up as a Punjabi, "Pictures in My Mind" offers an insight on the culture and life of a Punjabi family in Malaysia back in the times

THEMES

Nostalgic Memories

Sub themes

-          Dramatic emotions

-          Realities in life

-          Sweet touching moments of narrator’s experience

SETTINGS

·         Place

1.      School

2.      Bridge [where the man hung himself]

3.      Drain [man fell down and died]

4.      Durian orchard [the uncle chased her]

5.      House on the hill

6.      The well [construction of well to get water]

7.      Temple [father sang in front of the crowd]

8.      Grave [the family pays respect to the dead Chinese man]

·         Time

1.      From young times till a while back

·         Community

1.      Multi ethnic cultural community

MAIN EVENTS

a.       Young Sunita’s curiosity to the surroundings

b.      Mischievousness at the durian orchard

c.       Recklessness at bridge

d.      Father singing at temple and short prayers during meals

e.       Death of Chinese man, then Indian man

f.       Death of Ram, her brother

g.      Price haggling of cow between father and butcher

h.      Construction of well to provide water supply for the family

i.        Advancement of technology.

j.        Divided community. Father got stuck to join any groups, so he got stuck in the middle

      CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERISTICS