IT Home Learning - Lesson 4: Gambling

Paper

The title of the story, "Paper", has several meanings in relation to the story. Quoting "After all, it's just paper gains so far" from page 9 tells us that the title is in relation with them playing with the stocks. The quotation means that they had not really gained anything yet as they have not sold their shares. Quoting "The house is to be made of superior paper," tells us that Tay Soon had passed on and they would burn objects made of paper so that the deceased will enjoy it in the other world. Gambling involves money, which is made of paper (in the case of notes). The title is significant to the conclusion as they eventually have the dream house Tay Soon keeps talking about burnt for him when they were suppoed to be collecting money from the stocks if they had sold it earlier, but Tay Soon's fate changed.

Lottery

Ah Boh was really addicted to gambling. Whatever happened, she believed that these events would give her lucky numbers, and gradually became very superstitious about luck and gambling that she did not care about her poor mother who did not have a proper place to stay in and could not even have 3 proper meals. She gambled away her salary and told her mother that by gambling, she could earn more money to feed her, which was only to persuade her to let her continue gambling.

The Rocking Horse Winner

Firstly, the cause of death. I think that Paul died of obsession. Bassett and his Uncle Oscar was leading him astray, bringing him to watch horse races, which developed his gambling habit. However, his parents had a part to play in his death. They kept mentioning in front of their kids that they were short of money, and Paul wanted to help his family be rich. Being a young kid, he could not work yet, but he could gamble with Bassett and Uncle Oscar helping him placing the bets. Hence, I think that Paul’s parents, Bassett and Uncle Oscar are responsible for his death.

Based on Paper, Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore by Catherine Lim, Lottery, Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore by Catherine Lim, The Rocking Horse Winner by DH Lawrence