GCE A/L English Literature - Made Easy - Novel : The Waiting Earth

by Punyakante Wijenaike

Chapter sixteen:

Podi Singho and Sellohamy getting into a hot argument regarding their pretty daughter Isabellahamy. The school master's words "I will put you far above the others" encouraging Isabellahamy. His gifts to her increases the intimacy between the two of them.

The books with "a bright, happy picture of a man and woman boldly holding hands, their eyes meeting with a strange light in them ...... she read them without fear and with increasing pleasure"

Chapter Seventeen:

Isabellahamy turns out to be a problem child disobedient not responding to her mother's questions "In these times what could a mother do but press her lips into silence and bear the insults one's own child flung in once's face?" The school master's attempts to rouse Isabellahamy's jealousy by paying extra attention to Baby Nona.

"He turned his full charm on Baby Nona. He smiled at her even when there is no need for smiling......" This teacher with his low behaviour pattern not becoming of a teacher, brings disgrace to the nobel profession.

He has brought Isabellahamy, to such a level (by reading the books given to her) that roused in her the anxiety to experience the romantic element, flexible, curious and adventurous at her teenage level and the school master's crafty words: "Because without you I am nothing.

You are my sun, my moon, my pot of gold. If anything happens to you it happens to me too." "She lay silent, drinking in his words like she would drink the cool, refreshing water of a golden thambili." Podi Singho's arrangement to send his son with Rapiel Appu hurts Sellohamy, the traditional mother. "

What else can a woman expect than to be allowed to cook his meals and attend to his household and his needs." Sellohamy hardened herself. She knew how strong was his coldness to her. She knew now the full depth of his hatred. He would ignore even the firmness with his daughter because he did not want her to see that he agreed with his wife, Sellohamy.

Chapter eighteen:

The indifferent behaviour pattern of PodiSingho to-wards his wife is clearly emphasised in this chapter. "One must never believe a woman's heart, he muttered bitterly." The school master's changing moods and Isabellahamy accusing her father for subjecting her to humiliation by the teacher and asking the father not to come to school to fetch her.

Sellohamy hearing Carohamy's news about her daughter gets distressed "She will end up with her chastity gone if she goes her own way." Podisingho willingly gives one of his sons to Rapiel Appu, thus creating a chronic problem.

Chapter nineteen:

Sellohamy is worried about Isabellahamy's behaviour with the school master and realising her inability to control her own daughter and Rapiel Appu taking away her son. The school master "a man without roots going from school to wherever he was sent ."

"True he is a school teacher and above us all. But in a thing like this is he not a mantoo?"

Isabellahamy unfolding her secret to the school master "I'm with child" and his fear of the serious situation created by him.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng. Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.