The Pull Between Progress and Tradition

Everywhere in the novel the pull between the opposing poles of progress and tradition is evident as the characters must decide on which pole their affinity lies. In most cases, they must choose between one or the other, illustrating the novel’s stance that the two do not coincide very easily.

Uncle represents tradition. Like all of the characters, he was raised on the island, but unlike many of the younger people, he is not interested in improving the state of the island. In fact, he seems to think that things are just fine as they are. While many want to move out of the kampong because of the poor and sometimes dangerous conditions, he wants to, and does, stay there. He denounces Ah Boon’s position with the Gah Men, and he does not like that Ah Boon is to...