MULTICULTURAL ELEMENTS IN "THE GOOD OLD DAYS" by Shirley Lim

SOCIAL ISSUES

The economy is fluctuating that year. (p.10)

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Tension (3 of his sons have different opinions on how to deal with the wealth of the grandfather. E.g. 1^st uncle says they keep the business going and divide the profits equally each month among them. 3^rd uncle(narrator’s father) says he wants everything to be sold and divide the money equally as he needs the money to expand his business. Nonetheless, 2^nd uncle agrees with third uncle but he voices out that the economy is not good and each of them will need to choose which properties of grandfather they want and they can decide to sell or to keep their shares of the properties. 4^th uncle says he disagree with 2^nd uncle’s opinion. He thinks that the properties are not of equal value. He suggests to use a lottery system to decide who picks the properties  first. (p.9,10)

Fifth Uncle’s widow is claiming her share by suing the family (p.12)

Everyone is getting a lawyer to fight for their shares. Fifth uncle’s widow: DeSouza, an Eurasian. 2^nd uncle’s: Mr Deel, a white lawyer. 3^rd uncle: C.S. Tan, a chinese. 1^st uncle: Old Mr. Dass, the man who drew up Grandfather’s will.

BELIEF SYSTEMS

Grandfather’s burial was very grand. Example, the parade: fifty-man blowing oomp-pahs , over a hundered banner-bearers, the lorrf with the coffin is decorated with a profusion of wreaths and paper effigies, The effigies of motorcars, multi-storied buildings, a man in tailcoat and hat is presented(p.8).

Wear black to the ceremony. (p.9)

Believe in Toaists (p.16) : “as the Taoists taught us,”

Believes that he should work hard on the reality and put aside other things that cannot be changed instantly. (p.17) “perhaps I should work harder at trading rubber. Musn’t be like the hare and the tortoise and count my chickens before they’re hatched.”

VALUE SYSTEMS

Respect the elders. (p.11) “Quiet! You must show proper respect for the dead. Your kong-kong is just dead one day, and you’re already acting like monkeys.”

Men and women should keep a distance before they marry each other. (p.12) “Any woman who would go to the cinema with a man before they are married is not to be trusted.”

It isn’t nice to bring family issues to court. (p.12) “it does seem wrong to bring family affairs to court”