Saturday, January 26, 2008

If we dream too long
'If We Dream Too Long' is a novel written by Singapore Writer, Goh Poh Seng. First published on 1972 and is currently out of print.
Our literature teacher reprinted this novel last year, with permission from the author, and she only had 10 copies left.
Through balloting, in a lucky draw way, i got this copy and spent the entire morning and afternoon completing the entire novel.
Afterall, this is our required core reading for hL811, Imagining Singapore.

The story sets in old Singapore in the late 1960s, 1968 to be exact, after Singapore gained independance, when the country was relatively peaceful and in the stage of rapid development.

The main character of the story, Kwang Meng, was 18 years old when started out in this real world, harsh and compelling. He hated his work as a clerk, nonetheless there was nothing he could do to change this. His family was poor hence unable to sent him to university nor to start off into business. Moreover, being the eldest of the 5 children, with a sickly father, he was forced by circumtances into this mundane job as a clerk, earning him 120 a month.

His life was monotonous, for he could not find any meaning in the things he do. The only solance he had, was his nightly visit to Paradize bar with he friends, Hock lai and Portia, where they drink and got to know of the girl Lucy.
Intoxicating himself in alcohol and woman, seemed to be the only thing KwangMeng looked forward to.

His long time friends were much better off.
Hock Lai, being a natural speaker, a great orator and having a outgoing personality brought him far in his job as a insurance agent. And with his far sightedness, he got to know of a rich girl and got engaged within months after their graduated from pre-u. Hence being the husband of the daughter from a rich family.

Portia, on the other hand, had a wealthy family to begin with, hence was able to sent him abroad for studies.

It seemed few months ago when all 3 of them study side by side in the same school and were equal. But they soon go in their own separate ways in life. It soon became the case in which unless there was connection, the rich became richer and the poor became poorer.

Lucy, was a prostitute, not because she wanted to be, but because she had to, succumb to circumstances for she was just a woman. A prostitute she maybe, still has the self dignity. The only thing she have left. She truely loved Kwang Meng so much that she rejected his love for she knew what the future of their would be like.

That was around then he got to know another woman, Anne. She was the direct opposite of Lucy. Conservative, knowledgable, shy. Being with her and her relatives, Kwang Meng viewed life in another perspective. "NO matter howlowly their work is, it is meaningful and essential for the smooth functioning of society" said anne's brother in law, Boon Teik. From their influece, it was as if Kwang Meng freed himself from the world of darkness and intoxication.

Catching the falling leaves ...[6:22 PM]

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