–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
–What seems to be the story’s perspective on the government in newly independent Sudan? What’s the relationship between the government and the villagers?
–Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text
–At the end of the story, the old man refers to his own son and says, “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return.” How do you explain this?
–What do you think this story’s ultimate perspective is on the issue of tradition vs. modernity?
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
Life is unchanging in this village. Every generation experiences the same hardships like the flies, the inconvenience of travel, etc. They all know the doum tree exactly as their parents did, or their grandparents. Tradition is very important to the people of this village, and change is resisted. Each change the government tried to make with the water pump or the steamer was fought off by the towns people. The doum tree is one of the most important parts of their lives, and everyone experiences the same doum tree.
At the end of the story, the old man refers to his own son and says, “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return.” How do you explain this?
Answer: The way I interpreted this, I feel like the old man does not necessarily have resentment towards his son, more like disappointment. Throughout the story, it is very clear how important the tree is to not only the old man, but the rets of the village. So for his son to reject tradition by choosing to go away to a city for education, could be seen as insult not only to the older man but the rest of his village as well. After all, it is not like he was forced to leaver his village, he chose to. Considering how we can see how the old man is throughout the story, its plausible to believe that one of the only reasons his son has to return, is to deal with his possible own personal guilt for leaving. So by him saying that he should stay where he is now and never return, to me, it is the old man’s way of punishing his son for rejecting tradition.
Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text?
Up until the final passages the story was told from the old man’s perspective. However, towards the end of the story, it is told from the visitor’s perspective. This changes our own view of the text by showing the village people’s tradition (old) and modern traditions can coexist at the same time despite the efforts taken by the people to keep themselves isolated from modern ways. At the end of the story, we see that there is a middle ground and without this, there will be a constant battle between old and modern traditions.
At the end of the story, the old man refers to his own son and says, “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return.” How do you explain this?
I think that he says this because his son has already seen the bad sides of the village and ran away. He mentions that it wasn’t him that sent his son away but he went there on his own. I believe that by saying “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return”, the old man likes his son perspective of running away and he doesn’t want him to come back because there is no future for him in the village. So, I think the old man thinks it’s safer and better for his son to stay where he is.
What do you think this story’s ultimate perspective is on the issue of tradition vs. modernity?
The entire story is revolved around tradition and modernity, which are like two opposing sides of the same coin. We can especially see that although the traditional lifestyle is difficult, people are deeply connected within the community and have a rich culture, the Doum tree in this case. On the other hand, while the modern lifestyle is more advanced and convenient, it lacks the same sense of community and care for each other. Both lifestyles have their own advantages and disadvantages and neither group seems to want the other to intrude and try to change their way of life. However, at the end of the story, the old man hints that the two opposing styles can one day coexist, and people might be able to get the best of both worlds.
At the end of the story, the old man refers to his own son and says, “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return.” How do you explain this?
At the end of the story we see that the old man says “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return”. I believe that the meaning of this was to show the disconnect between the new generation and the people that come before them. He knows that his son has moved on from living that life and knows that he no longer connects with his old religious values. We also see later in the story how he wants his son to move on but would like to his grandson to experience his lifestyle because he knows that he’ll come with a fresh slate and more of an open mind towards it.
What do you think this story’s ultimate perspective is on the issue of tradition vs. modernity?
I think this issue of tradition vs modernity is represented by a cycle in which tradition can never go away as long as the “cycle” never breaks. Eventually, modernity will keep on spreading in the future which breaks this cycle, but the traditionalists will most likely keep staying traditional. Even though both ideas are polar opposites, there is a hopeful idea that they can coexist in society and hopes that people can try both lifestyles. The old man has a similar thought for his grandson, but not for his son due to the fact that he is far adjusted to a modern lifestyle. The grandson potentially represents the hope that this cycle can be broken from a clean slate and how one can live both traditionalist and modern
What do you think this story’s ultimate perspective is on the issue of tradition vs. modernity?
The story’s ultimate perspective in terms of tradition vs. modernity is seen in the old man as he in the end of the story thinks that all this conflict could be avoided if they could have done done a little of both there was time for both the Tree and the Steam train one did not have to take over the other. He even talks about how eventually his grandson can be the best of both worlds where he can have traditional aspects and modern aspects embracing both as he can see it from both perspective unlike the son who is fully modernized. It is best to have both of these aspects coexist and make for a more unified place.